With the recent excitement surrounding Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey, Homer’s epic has once again found itself in the spotlight.
With all the recent hype, I of course found myself wondering: if each of Odysseus’ adventures deserved its own whisky, what would be in the glass?
The epic contains many adventures, and I’ve picked just a handful of the most famous ones to pair with whiskies that somehow seem to capture their spirit. It’s probably wise not to attempt all nine drams in one sitting – Odysseus took ten years to complete the journey, after all.
1. The Lotus-Eaters – Paul John Nirvana
The Lotus-Eaters tempt Odysseus’ crew with a fruit so blissful that they lose all desire to continue their journey. “Nirvana” seems almost too perfect a name for this encounter, evoking complete contentment and freedom from worldly concerns. This very easy-drinking and approachable Indian single malt could just as easily make you forget you had other things to do.
Expect soft honey, vanilla, fruitcake, walnuts and warm baking spices.
2. The Cyclops – Octomore (any release)
If ever there were a whisky worthy of a one-eyed giant, it’s Octomore. Famous for being among the most heavily peated whiskies ever produced, this is a dram of almost mythical proportions – big, bold and unforgettable. Just as Polyphemus overwhelms Odysseus with brute strength, Octomore overwhelms the senses with smoke.
You can expect different tasting notes for different releases, but you can also generally expect powerful peat smoke, citrus, malt sweetness and surprising elegance beneath the intensity.
3. Aeolus, Keeper of the Winds – Old Pulteney 12 Year Old
Aeolus helps Odysseus by giving him a leather bag containing all the winds that might blow his ships off course on his way home. Disaster strikes only when the crew’s curiosity gets the better of them with home finally in sight, and they open it. They are of course blown off course in a massive storm, their journey far from over. Old Pulteney, often called “The Maritime Malt”, seems an appropriate companion for this windswept chapter of their voyage, with its unmistakable coastal character.
Expect a little sea salt, citrus, honey, green apple and gentle oak.
4. Circe – Bruichladdich Black Art
Circe is the powerful enchantress who transforms Odysseus’ men into pigs through sorcery. Few whiskies possess a name more fitting than Black Art. Its mysterious recipe, known only to a single distiller, has long cultivated an air of magic and secrecy worthy of Circe.
If Black Art stretches the budget a little too far, Port Charlotte 10 makes an excellent stand-in. It lacks the magical name, but still offers a wonderfully characterful Bruichladdich experience.
Expect rich dried fruit, dark chocolate, honey, oak spices and remarkable complexity.
5. Visiting Hades, the Land of the Dead – The Sexton
Odysseus journeys into the Underworld to seek out the prophet Tiresias, who he hopes can tell him how to return home to Ithaca. While there, he also meets the spirits of his mother, fallen comrades, and famous heroes, learning about mortality, fate, and his own journey. A whisky called “The Sexton” (named after the traditional caretaker of churchyards and cemeteries) feels like an appropriately atmospheric companion.
Expect some flora and fruity notes, dark chocolate, toasted nuts, and gentle oak.
6. The Sirens – Angel’s Envy
The Sirens represent irresistible temptation, luring sailors towards their destruction with songs too beautiful to ignore. Angel’s Envy seems a wonderfully playful choice: a whisky whose very name hints at temptation. Unlike the Sirens’ song, however, giving in to this temptation is generally a much safer decision.
Expect vanilla, caramel, ripe fruit and baking spices.
7. Scylla and Charybdis – Ardbeg Corryvreckan
At one point, Odysseus must steer his ship between Scylla and Charybdis (the many-headed monster and the whirlpool). Ardbeg Corryvreckan takes its name from the famous Scottish whirlpool, which forms in the Gulf of Corryvreckan (the stretch of sea between Jura and Scarba), making it an almost irresistible pairing. George Orwell famously had a near-fatal encounter with the real Corryvreckan whirlpool in 1947.
Expect intense peat smoke, black pepper, berries, espresso and a touch of sea spray.
8. Calypso – Compass Box Hedonism
Odysseus eventually ends up on the island of Ogygia, where he spends seven years with the nymph Calypso. She offers Odysseus a life of comfort, pleasure and even immortality if only he will stay with her. Compass Box Hedonism captures that seductive promise perfectly. Smooth, luxurious and indulgent, it’s the sort of dram that invites you to linger just a little longer.
Expect lashings of creamy vanilla, coconut, toffee and soft oak.
9. Home at Last – Whatever reminds you of home
After facing monsters, storms, shipwrecks and temptation for ten long years, Odysseus finally reaches home.
I won’t recommend a specific bottle for the end of his journey, as home will taste different for everyone. Instead, pour whatever whisky reminds you of home. Perhaps it’s a bottle from your local distillery, from just your own country, or perhaps it’s the first whisky you ever fell in love with, or simply the one you always reach for when celebrating with family and friends. After all, there’s no place quite like home.
For anyone who is travelling across the world, or simply home from work, may your own journey be much shorter than Odysseus’, and may there be a good dram waiting for you when you arrive!
Read the full article at The Odyssey in Nine Drams: A Whisky Lover’s Guide to Odysseus’ Journey Home
