Stuart MacLean Ramsay has been writing and educating about whisky & whiskey, craft beer and artisan spirits since the 1980’s. He hosts and runs the oldest whisky school in the United States (Ramsay’s Dram Academy of Whisky), and is founder and owner of WhiskyBack Brewing, producing beers to pair with whisky. (A victim of the pandemic, alas.) Stuart is honored to be a Keeper of the Quaich (Scotland) and a Kentucky Colonel for his services to the Scotch and Bourbon industries

Stuart has hosted hundreds of whisky classes and events over the years and consulted & helped many bars and restaurants with their whisky/spirits programs. He’s available for private and corporate whisky tastings & events, waitstaff training and consulting for the whisky and craft beer industries. Contact him 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. Stuart grew up over the hill from Balblair and dug peat in nearby Edderton, the ‘Parish of Peat’. He played shinty there, too.)

WHISKY & WHISKEY CLASSES: Currently hosting whisky classes at Meredith Mortensen’s Portland Cookshop. Next up is ‘Whiskies of the World’ on June 21st, 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: Stuart owns and hosts 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 and craft beer culture.

Stuart also hosts whisky classes for guests and their friends and for small groups (non-guests) at The John Barleycorn. Each class features three classic whiskies curated by Stuart, 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 Stuart 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 Stuart 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)