We welcome whiskey expert Cliff Smith, a respected instructor and mentor in the whiskey community, for a special tasting at West China Tea. Today we're exploring the pairing of Malac Phoenix, a luxurious "cashmere of red teas," with Highland Park 12, discussing how this approachable peated scotch serves as a perfect gateway into smoky whiskies. Cliff shares engaging stories from his experiences teaching whiskey appreciation, including how he helped change one colleague's perception of peated scotch. Meanwhile, So-Han guides us through the complexities of this premium red tea, made from special fragrant cultivars typically reserved for Phoenix Oolongs. Together, we discover how the tea's fruity notes and tannins interact with Highland Park's gentle smoke and honey characteristics. The conversation weaves through whiskey education, regional influences, and the fascinating parallels between tea and whiskey appreciation. We also discuss Cliff's work with Whiskey Mentors and their charitable initiatives, offering insights into the northeastern U.S. whiskey scene. @HighlandParkWhisky ⸺ credits ⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺ Richard Amiro - host http://richardamiro.com So-Han Fan - guest https://www.youtube.com/@TeaHouseGhost - https://westchinatea.com/ Cory Cranfill - a really helpful guy https://youtube.com/@shedlogic - https://www.righttoolmedia.com Cliff Smith - guest https://www.instagram.com/whiskymentors/ https://whiskymarketing.org/ ⸺ socials ⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺ Website: https://whiskeyprovisioner.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whiskeyprovisioner Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhiskeyProvisioner Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiskey_provisioner Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhiskeyProvis