Source: Sunday MailNov 2 2008 By Lesley Roberts
MASTER whisky blender Richard Paterson's bosses go all out to ensure he doesn't catch cold in winter.
For the dram expert's nostrils are so sensitive they are insured for £1.5million.
Richard, 59, is known simply as The Nose in distilleries for his skills - he can detect the slightest scent on the breeze.
It is a talent that helps him select the tones and flavours that make the perfect whisky.
The dad-of-three said: "I saw myself named in a list of people with valuable body parts.
"There was a porn star who'd insured her breasts for £5million and Rod Stewart whose vocal chords were insured for £3million - then there was me and my nose, which was a bit strange."
Richard, of Glasgow, is master blender at Whyte & Mackay and created the world's most expensive bottle of whisky - a 62-year-old Dalmore Single Highland Malt that sold for nearly £26,000 in 2002.
He has now written his autobiography - Goodness Nose - about his remarkable career.
Richard said: "I've been doing this for 40 years and I'm still passionate about whisky.
"I don't mind they call me The Nose. I just wish people would use their nostrils more.
"There's a whole world to be discovered. You can smell whatever is in the atmosphere."
But Richard admits he used to hate a dram and his first job with a whisky firm was as a telephonist.
He said: "My father used to come back late at night and I could smell whisky on his breath. Maybe my memories made me feel I didn't like it before I got to know it."
Maybe this guy could train spirits reviewers like me and RumDood.
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