I’ve been writing and educating about whisky & whiskey, craft beer and artisan spirits since the 1980’s. I run the oldest whisky school in the United States (Ramsay’s Dram Academy of Whisky), and own WhiskyBack Brewing, producing beers to pair with whisky. Honored to be a Keeper of the Quaich (Scotland) and a Kentucky Colonel for my services to the Scotch and Bourbon industries

I’ve hosted hundreds of whisky classes and events over the years and consulted & helped many bars and restaurants with their whisky/spirits programs. I’m available for private and corporate whisky tastings & events, waitstaff training and consulting for the whisky and craft beer industries. Contact me at stuart@ramsaysdram.com

Sláinte & Cheers! Stuart MacLean Ramsay.

Latest articles in Distiller Magazine: https://distilling.com/distillermagazine/compass-box-duality/https://distilling.com/distillermagazine/whisky-in-the-kingdom/

(By the way, that’s a photo of Balblair Distillery in Easter Ross, Scotland, above. I grew up over the hill from Balblair and dug peat in nearby Edderton, the ‘Parish of Peat’. Played shinty there, too.)

WHISKY & WHISKEY CLASSES: Currently hosting whisky classes at Meredith Mortensen’s Portland Cookshop. Next up is Bourbon & Rye on March 21st, 2024. Scotch whisky on May 3rd, 2024. The Cookshop is at 26th & Clinton in SE Portland, Oregon. No celebrity or sourced whiskies! Reservations and more details at https://www.portlandcookshop.com

Whisky classes in The John Barleycorn Home: I own and operate The John Barleycorn Home, a 5-star guesthouse/short-term rental in Inner Southeast Portland that celebrates Portland & Oregon’s food and drink culture. It’s two blocks from all the cool restaurants, bars and shops on Division Street and the Clinton Street Corner. The John Barleycorn (named after the British term for ale & whisky) has a PDX Crafty Beer Bedroom and The Botanist Bedroom, named for the Scottish plant collector, David Douglas. Comfy & eclectic, with lots of whisky culture.

I also host whisky classes for my guests and their friends and for small groups (non-guests) at The John Barleycorn. Each class features three classic whiskies curated by myself, a craft beer back and snacks. There’s a slide presentation of the category’s production & distilleries, too. Minimum requirement of two guests; maximum 6 guests. Contact me via email for class details, bookings and availability.

You can check out the guest house on the airbnb listing, below, but if you’d like to spend a night or two, contact me directly for the special “Friends of Ramsay’s Dram” rates.

https://airbnb.com/h/johnbarleycornhome-portland

Instagram Handle: stuartmacleanramsay.

Facebook Handle: Stuart MacLean Ramsay

Keeper of the Quaich (Scotland) • Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels • Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) • Nominee: Best Drink Journalist, World Food Media Awards • Best Person to Drink with in Portland (Willamette Week) • Godfather of Whisky  (pdx Women Who Whiskey) • Scotland’s Unofficial Ambassador to Portland (33 Books)