What was your first experience with Scotch? Was it an enjoyable one?
I was six years old and my dad had just won a golf tournament in the Philippines, where we were living at the time. The trophy cup was filled with Whisky and I was lucky enough to be able to snag a large sip. It was enjoyable from what I recall - as a little kid.

When and how did you decide to become a Brand Ambassador?
I wasn't a "whisky geek" or anything like that -- I just answered an advertisement from The Macallan in December of 2006. A friend had suggested I apply for the position. At the time, I was working for a luxury eyewear company from California, so I already had an interest in luxury brands. The position seemed like a great opportunity to move to New York, so I decided to apply.

When you are not drinking Scotch, what is your drink of choice?
Is there any other drink? I wasn't aware.

If you weren't a brand ambassador, what career path do you think you would have followed?
I would be interested in sports marketing, but just being a professional golfer actually sounds much better. In fact, I am sort of an aspiring professional golfer right now, on the side. Scotland's two greatest inventions were scotch and golf -- I guess I ended up going for the scotch!

What exactly is a Brand Ambassador?
I'm not entirely sure what a Brand Ambassador is or does -- I'm really just a professional whisky drinker.

In general a brand ambassador is a personal representative for a product that he or she cares about. Brand ambassadors bring a personal face to a historical and well-established brand, and travel around the country, educating people about their brand, through one-on-one conversations, local events, or national initiatives.

What does the term "single malt" mean?
'Single Malt' scotch whisky is scotch whisky distilled at a single distillery entirely from malted barley. At The Macallan distillery, the quality of our oak wood casks is the single biggest contributor to the outstanding and distinctive natural colors, aromas and flavors of The Macallan. All our casks are handcrafted or hand-picked in Spain or North America. No expense is spared to ensure The Macallan's casks are the best quality, and best cared for, in the industry.

If you were going to mix your Scotch with something, what do you prefer?
You should always taste an older whisky neat to start and then decide from there if it needs any water at all, or on rarer occasions, ice.

I recently had a glass of Scotch with The Macallan's new ice ball and it completely made the experience. I always encourage people to drink Scotch however they personally enjoy it best -- whether that be neat, on the rocks or with a splash of water.

What are your favorite foods to pair Scotch with?
Well right now I am living in New York City, so I can recommend several of my favorite pairings around Manhattan. I love the Scotch pairing menu at the UWS restaurant eighty one -- they feature a flight of 3 expressions from The Macallan with small bites including dishes like yellowtail tuna tartare with orange honey and yuzu.

A steak with The Macallan 12 at Del Frisco's is also a standard classic, but my favorite pairings are The Macallan 18 with chocolate molton cake from Dylan Prime or The Macallan 15 with a slice of carrot cake and ginger ice cream at BLT steak. The Macallan Fine Oak 30 is best paired with crème brulee, and The Macallan Sherry Oak 30 -- with absolutely nothing.

The age of Scotch drinkers is getting younger, why do you think that is?
I think that the intricacies of wine opened up a new interest in scotch as a drink that is incredibly nuanced and exciting to explore. Unlike wine, however, scotch is much less pretentious and a lot more fun -- it doesn't take itself too seriously.

Scotch's most enthusiastic supporters have traditionally been the middle-aged, executive crew. Now their sons are discovering Scotch and bringing to it a "corporate-edgy" sort of vibe.

What trends have you been observing in the scotch world?
As previously mentioned, the scotch category is growing exponentially among younger, edgier, trend conscious men and women, who are curious and eager to learn and understand the history behind the liquid. We're also starting to see interest in scotch as a new twist on classic food pairings that are generally associated with wine.

In addition, The Macallan in particular has recently added a new upgrade to a classic dram on the rocks, with the Ice Ball Machine. This device produces a sphere of ice that fits perfectly in a low ball scotch glass, cooling one's beverage and melting at a slower pace than normal ice, so as not to compromise the scotch's flavor. It's also a great presentation piece, as it's an instant stand out at a bar or event.