May’s Society Life features our Chicago Member Ambassador, Mr. Elhan Orhon. Elhan’s passion for people is evidenced by the dozens of Chicago-area members who sing his praises as an exceptional host and whisky mind. I had the pleasure of meeting Elhan for the first time in 2018 at a special dinner in Chicago. He has been one of the Society’s most prolific collectors over the last decade and, most importantly, shares his spoils with members at each event. I’ll never forget him smuggling wine into the Giordano’s after a Tasting Panel Experience so we might enjoy a heightened deep dish pizza experience.
Elhan is one of a kind. Find an excuse to come to Chicago for one of his events. You’ll be glad you did. Pour a dram and pull up a chair. Over to you, Elhan….
TS: Hi Elhan, please tell us a bit about yourself….
EO: I’ve lived in the United States since 1994, splitting my time fairly equally between Houston, Texas, and Chicago, Illinois. I’m married and have two children — a 25-year-old daughter and a 22-year-old son. Professionally, I’m an executive at a global airline. Outside of whisky, I enjoy skiing, scuba diving, cycling, and cooking.
TS: What is it about whisky that interests you the most?
EO: That’s a complex question. For me, whisky is all about the history, tradition, and story behind each distillery — and how those elements are reflected in every bottle and dram. It all begins with three simple ingredients: barley, yeast, and water. One could argue that wood and time are equally important parts of the equation as well. Regardless, I find it fascinating that something so simple can evolve into such a diverse and complex spirit.
TS: What has been your most memorable whisky experience to date?
EO: I’ve been fortunate enough to taste many incredible whiskies over the years, but in the end, what matters most are the memories attached to them. For me, the most memorable experiences were the first distilleries that visited with my daughter and son and sharing drams together. With my daughter, it was visiting Bimber Distillery in London, and with my son, Teeling Distillery in Dublin. Those are moments I’ll never forget.
TS: You're stranded on a desert island with one bottle of whisky for an entire month, what is it?
EO: People might expect me to say a 1970s Ardbeg, a 1960s Macallan, Black Bowmore, or one of the legendary Samaroli bottlings — and I’ve been privileged enough to taste many of them. But honestly, I’d go with an Ardbeg 10-Year-Old. It is the first single malt that took me out of my comfort zone early in my whisky journey, introduced me to peat. I have been drinking it since then.
TS: What is your favorite distillery to visit and why?
EO: This will probably be Distillery No. 27 — Springbank Distillery. Am I allowed to say that?
TS: Yes, you are! What about Springbank makes it your favorite?
EO: I spent an entire week in Campbeltown attending the Springbank Whisky School. What I love most is that they still do everything the old-school, traditional way — with minimal automation and very little modern technology. Whether or not someone loves the spirit itself, if you want to truly understand how whisky is made and appreciate the human element behind it, Springbank is the place to visit.
TS: Why did you decide to become a member of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society?
EO: The Society takes you beyond the marketing, labels, and preconceived ideas about whisky. It gives you the opportunity to experience whisky in its purest form — single cask and cask strength — often from distilleries you might never otherwise encounter. Every cask is unique and offers a completely different experience.
TS: What has been the highlight of your membership experience so far?
EO: The people and the shared experiences have been the highlight for me. Some of my best whisky memories have come from Society tastings and events — discovering exceptional drams while spending time with fellow members who share the same passion and curiosity for whisky.
TS: Any advice for the other Society members?
EO: Come to the events, meet other members, and enjoy some incredible drams with like-minded people. At the end of the day, whisky is always about the people for me. Be adventurous, try different flavor profiles, step outside your comfort zone, and most importantly, enjoy the social side of the experience.
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Thank you, Elhan, for sharing your thoughts. And thank you, reader, for spending some time with us.
