Company:
The Glenlivet
Job:
Master Distiller
Website:
theglenlivet.com
long have you been working in the whisky industry?
a summer job as a distillery guide.
has been your biggest career highlight to date?
with so many exciting projects over the years.
When one is achieved, another comes along such as getting my first job
and ultimately progressing to Brewer, Distillery Manager, and Distilling
Manager, before being made the Master Distiller of The Glenlivet in 2009, which
was of course an incredible honour.
of the Malt Distillers, Chair of the Scottish Section of The Institute of
Brewing and Distilling and a Keeper of the Quaich. I hope it does not sound
like a list of boasts, but I count all these as my highlights.
Can you remember your first dram, and
indeed what is was?
My first memorable dram was an eight or nine year old Aberlour, poured
from the old square bottle, when I was with family and neighbours on the
evening of the Aberlour Highland Games.
What
does whisky mean to you?
It’s a way of life for
me!
Where
would you like to see yourself in five years time?
Oh
my goodness I have had a thought that I could be retired, but I do certainly
hope to be involved in the whisky industry in some way, maybe writing a book about
my experiences and the history of the industry.
What
was your last dram?
Last night, I shared a
dram with a new guide at Strathisla Distillery where we discussed the character
of Strathisla 12.
Do
you have a favourite whisky and food pairing combination?
Martine Nouet and Eric Obry
at La Faisanderie opened my eyes over the years to this at our Whisky Dinners
and is a particular favourite of mine, a sherried whisky with a chocolate
pudding.
What
is your favourite time and place to enjoy a dram?
A dram is so versatile;
it can be enjoyed with friends anywhere… on top of a mountain, at a family
gathering or with someone you have never met before. An old colleague once said
to me: “let’s have a splash of an introduction”, which I live by.
What
do you think is going to be the next big thing on the whisky horizon?
I love this industry
and I’ve been surprised and delighted over the years how certain trends can develop
and we look forward to these things, as they add to the industry.
What’s
the one dram you couldn’t live without?
A wee dram of The
Glenlivet 18 Year Old with a splash of water.
Many thanks to Alan Winchester. Who will be the next
Whisky Insider? Click back soon to find out!
The Whisky Wire 
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