Just watch a wee bit of soccer or rugby, and you’ll see the marrow-deep rivalry between Japan and Scotland. It’s not the thing you expect, but isn’t that what makes the world interesting? On the opposite side of things, one of the most popular television shows in Japan is Massan, the story of a Japanese distiller who learned his craft in Scotland and also married a Scottish woman.  Love and competition have grown deep in these two island nations.

Japanese whiskey originated in Scotland, but it’s become it’s very own creature. Of all booze, whisky is regional and is a profound foil on culture. In this class, we look to the two greatest cultures that have embraced whisky. Note the spelling, that is important to the story.