7 april 2021
International Tasting for whisky lovers in Singapore organized by Kelvin Hoon from bar the Swaen Song

Sarah Thallon, one of the participants, wrote me the following afterwards:

Michiel, I’m on my way home from Swan Song, and that was one of my favourite tastings in a long time. Partly because it’s the first non work related tasting I’ve done at a bar since pre covid, partly because the whiskies were so unusual and interesting, but mostly because of you. I love a tasting session that’s like getting together with friends and telling stories, rather than a series of individual (meaningless) tasting notes. You managed the crowd wonderfully, you were the right balance of entertainment and humour, and if we were in the same space under different times you are definitely someone I’d love to give a thank you hug. I hope that I’ll get the opportunity to meet you when you come to Singapore, or it may be Europe where we meet. I look forward to our paths crossing again. Slainte.

A review from the Michiel Wigman and Marcel van Gils tasting at our whisky club in Stavanger, 2018.

Our club in Stavanger was approaching its 10 year anniversary. We knew we had to do something special.

Several members of out club already knew Michiel from several visits to the Limburg Festival in Germany. My first encounter with Michiel was at the first Old & Rare Whiskyshow in Glasgow, back in February 2017. And what a nice guy. Always time to discuss his passion for whisky. And he was not afraid to share a lot of  knowledge for excellent single casks from his stand and  similar / comparable releases in general. And boy, did we enjoy several superb drams from his whisky stand.

After meeting up with Michiel the following year at the Old & Rare Whiskyshow in February 2018, we initiated the discussions regarding his potential visit to out club in Stavanger for our 10 year anniversary at our club in Stavanger, Norway.

And Voila. 7 months later, after several e-mails and so on, Michiel found himself at Stavanger Airport, after flying in on a very stormy September night. He also brought along a mystery friend for the event. Namely Marcel van Gils 😊.

After a dinner that night and a guided tour for the dutchmen the following day, it was time for the tasting event.

Michiel brought along some lovely bottles from his collection to include in the tasting. And what a lineup that was. Ben Nevis, Balmenach, Ardbeg, Longmorn, Caol Ila, all from the 1970’s, to name some. The tasting lasted for over 3 hours with superb drams and excellent stories and a lot of insight information as well as trivia, of course. We were also lucky enough to have Marcel to chip in from time to time during this legendary tasting.

If you are wondering if you want a special occasion with your whisky club, no need to search any further. Contact Michiel. His funny and interesting stories, his profound knowledge and passion for whisky and his great personality is hard to compare in the industry. He has promised to return at some point. And man, cannot wait for that to materialize.

Slainte!

Cato Hardy,
Chairman of the Norwegian Malt Whisky Society, Stavanger branch.

Michiel Is, besides a connoisseur on whisky also an inspiring and eloquent speaker who, without any problem, is capable of inspiring us the whole evening with sometimes hilarious anecdotes. He drew from his long experience as a connoisseur, taster, collector and worldwide traveller and took us on a journey along distilleries, whisky fairs and whiksyfreaks.

We were able to taste some of the extraordinary whiskies from Michael’s personal collection and had the unique experience to enjoy some whisky’s that mostly are just out of reach for “normal” people.

But after an evening with Michiel there might be a chance that one stretches his whisky budget upwards.

In short: a very a cosy, sociable and educational evening. !!

On behalf of Beteor Adviesorganisatie
Diem Wolff

Most business network gatherings take place in brightly lit conference halls and restaurants used for corporate events. We were keen to do something different. In the dark days before Christmas we have been organising Whisky Nosing & Tastings for years, under the guidance of the renowned Whisky connoisseur Michiel Wigman. With a select company we came together in the middle ages atmosphere of the vaults of the ‘Witte Os’ in Zeist. To taste a number of top whiskies of course, but above all to talk to each other. 

In the candle-lit vaults Michiel succeeded every time in stimulating us with his unforgettable stories, subtle sense of humour and tasteful anecdotes. As a host he ensures that the guests don’t just enjoy the finer things in life, but also that we have time and space to talk together without interruption, and to exchange ideas.
Our Whisky Nosing and Tastings grew to become an annually recurring highlight. A gathering that people sometimes walked into as strangers, but always headed home from as friends in the taxis that were at the ready for them. Thank you Michiel for many enjoyable and unforgettable hours! 

J. v.d. V
On behalf of one of the Netherlands’ major banks

I first made Michiel’s acquaintance in 2005. At the time I had caught the whisky bug and decided to attend the Lindores whisky festival in Oostende. There stood the Dutch Connection (Michiel and Bert Vuik) with a table full of tasty treats. Over the following years I met Michiel regularly at whisky festivals, and I always rounded off the festival at Michiel’s table. The chance to become acquainted with famous and notorious whiskies appeared to have an irresistible attraction for me. Michiel’s conviviality and excellent explanations contributed to this as well, of course ;-).  I was invariably greeted with the question: “Steven, have you tasted this one yet?”. And Michiel succeeded in surprising me every time with old, or maybe not so old, gems.

From these enjoyable meetings the idea grew of inviting Michiel to do a tasting for our whisky club The Finest Notes. Michiel agreed to do it, and the rest is history…
Michiel’s visit became an annual tradition which our members looked forward to with great anticipation. We tasted fantastic whiskies, and the drams were accompanied by expert information and enjoyable anecdotes from the whisky world.In more recent years Michiel also managed to surprise us with new bottles, the ‘Future classics’ as he calls them. Michiel always manages to find them!
Michiel is a guarantee of a tasty and enjoyable whisky activity!

Steven Du Chateau
President of whisky club The Finest Notes, Belgium