Meet the Educator: Louis Lee

A wine and spirit columnist, Louis Lee teaches whisky and wine courses for Hong Kong Wine Academy. He is on the judging panel of Whisky Magazine and Malt & Spirit Magazine Hong Kong. He has been qualified as certified educator of Wine & Spirit Education Trust WSET since 2003, the first Hong Kong Official Educator of Bourgogne Wine Board BIVB.

We’re delighted to welcome Louis Lee onboard as an Approved Course Provider. We caught up with him to learn more about what brought him to the role, what makes him tick and what his world of whisky looks like, quickfire style.

Some years ago now, I completed courses at Speyside Festival School, the Scotch Whisky Research Institute and the Edinburgh Whisky Academy diplomas. I decided to bring all these interesting topics back to Hong Kong drinkers as I strongly believed that this is the future trend of the beverage market.

For me, teaching is all about sharing. I appreciate the different categories and levels that Edinburgh Whisky Academy offer. And, of course, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) recognition is very important.

To learn more about whisky or get into the industry, my advice would be to start with the Certificate in Scotch Whisky. Once you have completed this, go for Diploma of Single Malt Whisky which is worldwide recognised.

Whisky wisdom: quick fire questions

First whisky you ever tasted?
White Horse in the 1980s.

Best whisky you have ever tasted?
A lot… Port Ellen 20-year-old, Kaurizawa and Hanyu special editions, some vintage Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Favourite distillery to visit?
A lot… one of them with a deep impression on the memory was in Shizuoka, Japan. It is built inside the forest and most of the facilities are made by wood.

Favourite non-whisky drink?
Burgundy, either white or red.

Favourite whisky and food pairing?
Young Scotch with smoked salmon or saline raw oyster.

What person, dead or alive, would you most like to share a dram with?
My father who’s passed away.