As they say "all good things must come to an end" and for us, that time has arrived. While it's been an amazing experience with meeting new friends, seeing new places and learning new things, our sights have now turned from camaraderie to competing. Today we prepare our serves and present them to the judging panel, which includes Grant family member, Kirsten Grant Meikle.

Josh and I have spent hours preparing our speeches and presentation, and, like the rest of our competitors, are both anxious and ecstatic. Okay, I'm the one really nervous here. A few shot of whisky for courage is called for. No really. They're handing out bottles of Glenfiddich to help calm our nerves. The straws have been drawn to decide the order of presentations, and as fate would have it we have drawn to go last. Actually, this is fortuitous as we now have an opportunity to not only continue a bit of practice but also study our competitors strategies and adapt if needed. With a few minutes to go, we all gather to bid each other good luck and take one more final photo as a group of kindred spirits.

Each of the bars had some amazing serves to be reckoned with. The amount of thought, creativity and execution from everyone was truly inspired. This is exactly why this event is so unique, it's not about cocktails, but really a culinary creativeness from bartenders to showcase the whisky and how it's more than just cocktail component or sipper.

Brandy Library took a "heightened" approach to their serve opting to enhance the flavors already present in the Glenfiddich 15 Year by adding a little heather honey to their serving glass of whisky, a single vanilla bean and a Spanish sherry/sugar rim. Simple yet elegant.

Peter and John from Red Dog Tavern in New Jersey took a simple approach and served a dram of Glenfiddich 15 Year in a hollowed out pear while allowing their clientele to smoke a hearty cigar that was set in a humidor laced with a Glenfiddich 12 Year (hmm...cigar eh?). Finally, they added a simple Rob Roy for good measure to our panel.

Next up, Izzy and Steven show that an Irish pub can throw down some serious spirituous creativity by serving small bites to accompany a different expression of Glenfiddich. Some of the offerings included a Highland whisky tablet; hazelnut and bee-less honee; and a divine ginger bacon with sultanas and date. This is some truly stiff competition.

Andrew and Pedro took a very simple approach to the competition by serving some nibbles of fresh sliced pear, fig and a homemade butterscotch cookie. Listening to both them guide us through their thought process and experience was one of the best experiences of the trip. Seriously. Both these gentleman are extremely passionate about their craft and nothing short of experts of all things liquid. Masterfully done gents.

The Stand decided to meld the bar with the kitchen and serve a custom honey ice sphere with some quaffable Glenfiddich 18 Year kissed with a touch of smoked rosemary. To sweeten the deal Chef Kevin Kearney indulged us with homemade chocolate truffles laced with Glenfiddich 12 Year. A decadent dessert duo that we would enjoy anytime.

Finally, it was time for yours truly and cigar specialists Josh Weltmer to offer up a unique cigar experience courtesy of Lit Cigar Lounge at Snoqualmie Casino here in Washington. Tobacconist Weltmer, who was the mastermind behind this project and its conception, had a custom cigar created with 3 different wrappers. Each one would compliment the flavor profiles of our flight selection starting with a Connecticut Shade to pair with the pear, butterscotch and subtle oak notes in the Glenfiddich 12 Year. As you smoke, the cigar will burn down to the next portion wrapped in a Broadleaf Maduro to marry perfectly with ginger, citrus and fruitcake notes of the Glenfiddich 15 Year. Finally, the last third Sun Grown wrapper leads us into a more full flavored experience that pairs perfectly with the Glenfiddich 18 Year baking spices, dates and honeysuckle.

With all the of the presentations completed, we each take a deep sigh of relief and head towards the restaurant to prepare for our last meal together while the panel compares notes and thoughts for the final decision. Each of us talk of our strengths and weaknesses during our serves and begin to relax and tell stories of our experiences here and how it has shaped our lives.

After a lengthy debate, the panel has returned and is ready to present their decision. With hopes high and hearts pounding, Kirsten tells us a bit about each serve and how unique they were. She shares her heartfelt thanks for being apart of this unique experience and her hopes of what we will take from it, and that while they were all exactly what she had hoped for, only one can leave victorious. And then she announces it:

"Congratulations to Lit Cigar Lounge for winning the first ever, Kindred Spirit Competition!"

I seriously think I screamed "yes!" and did a fist pump!

While I know we were winners just by being apart of this once in a lifetime experience, it still feels dam good to win. I must have high-five Josh I don't know how many times. It feels great to bring home a win, even if my part was small in the grander scheme of things, a win is a win. Thanks to William Grant & Son's, Glenfiddich, The Tasting Panel, our gracious host Mitch, Kirsten, and all of the amazing bartenders and culinary wizards and new friends whom we met and shared so much with on this epic journey. Cheers!

Photo Courtesy of The Tasting Panel

Photo Courtesy of The Tasting Panel