The Canberra Centre is celebrating Fathers’ Day with a couple of great events to get dad’s tastebuds twirling. Whiskey Culture – an evening of exploring the finer side of the world’s whiskies – is hosted by the exuberant and passionate Nathanael Kennedy.

We sat down with Nathanael to preview the event is September, and get a few tips on how to enjoy this most exotic of liquors.

What brought Whiskey back? The retro-romance of Mad Men, retro-fashion or Brooklyn hipsters spreading their love of simplicity around the world?

Well, in my opinion, hipsters tend to destroy things, so I’m pretty sure it was the opposite of that.

The marketers behind the big distilleries have seized an opportunity that might have been created by Mad Men, but they’ve given it a much greater push. However, Australians are also becoming increasingly sophisticated in their buying choices – particularly among younger consumers, and that can trickle down through the market.

So, what are you doing with Canberra Centre?

We’re looking to give people who haven’t had a real opportunity to experience the many varieties of whiskey. There’ll be five different styles from around the world, including Scotland, Canada, the USA, Japan and Australia. It’s relaxed, it’s fun, and there will be some delicious whiskies on offer.

For someone who’s not familiar with whiskey, where to start?

Don’t overreach. It’s really important. Take yourself on a journey by starting with smoother, lighter whiskies, especially the Irish varieties. Just grab a Jameson, which is a classic example of the style.

For Scotch whiskies, try Lowland, such as Glenkinchie and start working your way – anticlockwise – around the geography of Scotland. Over time, you’ll find yourself at Islay, which has all the heavy and peaty whiskies that tend to blow beginners out of the water.

Importantly take your time. It’s a lifetime treat.

Ice, water or neat?

Again, there’s no correct answer. To experience whiskey the way it was bottled and meant to be, the only ingredient you need is a glass. If you need to water it down, just a gentle dash of still, filtered, room temperature water is the way to go.

If I feel like a whiskey on a hot day, I have no shame in grabbing a couple of great big pieces of ice and splashing over a liberal dose of a durable favourite, such as Famous Grouse. That way, you can simply enjoy it and set expectations and, process completely aside, enjoy a delicious strong drink.

Australian whiskies are really coming it no their own. What are the defining characteristics of the home-grown style?

I really think it’s the fact they have no legacy. As effectively brand new distilleries, they can do what they want, without being bogged down by 100-plus years of perceptions and expectations. Not hiding behind ancestry is really liberating.

Also, especially for the Tasmanian varieties, and Sullivan’s Cove in particular, the purity of the ingredients is absolute. The rain that falls on Tasmania is the freshest in the world, given its geographic position. This feeds through to the grains and the peats and the result is amazing. The distillers in Australia aren’t skimping on their ingredients, and it shows.

What are some value options if readers are looking to buy dad a bottle for Father’s Day?

Buffalo Trace is around $60.00 and is fantastic value. Nice smooth, crisp, clear whiskey that you can certainly drink neat.

The next step up is Glenlivet 15YO for around $85.00-$90.00. It’s amazing how much better than the 12YO, especially given the price difference and, in my opinion, is certainly better than their 18YO. If you want to impress someone with your inside knowledge, this is a great one.

Finally, if you can get your hands on a bottle of Sullivan’s Cove, it really is magnificent. Fantastic to drink but, if you leave it in its box in a safe place, is likely to only increase in value and give increasing rarity through extraordinary demand.

Whiskey Culture – Whiskey Appreciation Evening hosted by Nathanael Kennedy takes place on Friday, 5 September 2014 at Canberra Centre Hub. Tickets are $60.00 and the whiskies will be served with matching hors d’oeuvres.

For more information, click here.

To see more of what’s on offer for Fathers’s Day, check out OutInCanberra’s Guide here.