Stephen Beal
Master of Scotch
Steve Beal is one of the world's seven "Masters
of Scotch", the elite crops of brand ambassadors
and Scotch whisky education specialists who represent the premium
Scotch Whisky portfolio of the world's leading drinks producer,
DIAGEO: Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch Whisky, the eight single malt
whiskies of The Classic Malts Selection and their Rare Editions,
as well as Dimple-Pinch, Buchanan's and J&B Blended Scotch Whiskies.
Steve is a very familiar figure to both the consumers who enjoy
them and those in the trade who make and sell fine single malts. He
has earned the respect of everyone he meets with his endless energy
and passion for all things Scottish and single malts in particular.
Steve us admired and well known by almost every top-shelf
bartender, chef and waitperson in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Although, he is the official brand ambassador for many well known
and respected brands, many have come to consider him the unofficial
brand ambassador for the category of single malts as a whole in
Northern California and the USA.
In March of 2003, Steve was presented with the first ever
"Spirits
Ambassador to the World Award"
at the Whiskies of the World Expo in San Francisco, one
of the world's largest whisky consumer and trade events. In
presenting the award, Jim MacEwan, renowned mater distiller and
Scottish distillery owner, thanked Steve for his contribution to the
industry and for "putting meat on the tables of Scotland."
Steve's start in the whisky business was one of fate and being in
the right place at the right time. He was working for a well known
culinary school when he received a call from someone looking for
..."a Scotsman with a kilt who knew something about whisky..." The
next thing he knew, he was now sharing his knowledge with the world.
Steve comes to his knowledge of whisky through a very personal
journey. He has trained at several distilleries, including
Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore, Oban, Talisker, Lagavulin, Glenkinchie,
Cardhu and Royal Lochnagar. He has worked for Highland Industries
and The Whisky Shops of Scotland (Scotland's largest independent
retailer of fine malts) and guided the launch of their first U.S.
based location. He is a pioneer in internet whisky sales and website
development. He has consulted for a large number of retailers, both
on and off premise. He has presented training and sales programs for
almost all the major single malt brands and private tastings for the
consumer in settings to numerous to list.
In addition to his work as an educator and ambassador, Steve is
also a principal judge for the yearly San Francisco World Spirits
Competition, is a presenter for Bon Appetite magazine's Wine
and Spirit's Focus and is Contributing Editor for Patterson's
Beverage Journal, a respected adult beverage industry
publication.
Steve jokes that whisky 'was the first true food which ever
passed my lips". He is descended from a long line of Scots, some of
whom have been in the whisky business, but as he says.... "Most of
them have kept the industry alive single handedly as loyal
customers".
Stephen is a graduate of the University of Arizona and Oxford
University. He studied culinary arts in Paris and also holds a
masters degree from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in
Berkley. When he isn't busy teaching the world about fine spirits,
he volunteers his time working with San Francisco's homeless
population and at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral where he serves in
a voluntary capacity as The Reverand Stephen Beal, Associate Pastor.
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