DistilleryTours: Recent Episodes
Louise Sylvester
DistilleryTours.scot speaks to the distillery managers, production and visitor centre teams to hear what makes them love their jobs, and their whisky, more than ever.
In this episode, David Riddell speaks Angela Dineen, Operations Director at the Scotch Whisky Experience which is based at the top of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile near to the castle itself.
Angela tells us that the Edinburgh attraction is just about to launch a brand new immersive whisky experience which will enthral and engage anyone who visits.
We also learn more about its amazing whisky collection, which happens to be one of the largest in the world and contains some unique and very old bottles of scotch!
In this episode, David Riddell speaks to Archie McDermott, manager at Luvians Bottle Shop in St Andrews.
Archie tells us more about the history of Luvians and its journey from Fife ice cream parlour to award-winning bottle shop, with the St Andrews branch stocking more than 300 different whiskies and the ‘mothership’ Cupar branch, custodians of over 1000 varieties of whisky…
He also talks about Luvians role in the Fife Whisky Festival and the growth of the whisky industry throughout Fife and the surrounding areas.
Karen tells us about the history of Angels’ Share Glassware and how she and her Dad were inspired by the Ken Loach film The Angels’ Share. She also tells us about the famous whisky angels and what it’s like being a director of the Fife Whisky Festival.
We speak to Mike Stuart, owner of Inverurie Whisky Shop
Mike tells us about the shop's incredible selection of whiskies as well as its popular whisky academy, tours and bespoke journeys. Not to mention his multi-award winning Foghouse Gin.
We speak to John Stirling, director at Arbikie Distillery.
John tells us about the distillery's new visitor centre and about how sustainability and a field-to-bottle approach is at the heart of everything they do..
We speak to Matthew McFadyen co founder and director of Glasgow-based retailer, The Good Spirits Co.
Matthew tells us about how his passions for interesting whiskies, spirits and wine led him and two friends to set up the business, how the company’s three shops got through the COVID pandemic and he also recalls a memorable whisky voyage to Campbelltown.
We speak to Dennis Malcolm, Master Distiller at Glen Grant Distillery.
Dennis tells us some fascinating tales about his 60 year career in scotch whisky and also discusses what makes Glen Grant such a special distillery, being awarded the OBE for his services to whisky and what it’s like to have a 60 year old 25,000 euro whisky named after you.
We speak to Jo McKerchar, Diageo Historian & Archivist and Sam Hale of the Caol Ila Distillery.
Sam and Jo discuss what makes the Caol Ila Distillery so special, from its unique and stunning setting to its role at the heart of the community that surrounds it. They also allude to the rich history of Islay and its enduring relationship with whisky - Caol Ila's 175th anniversary being a real cause for celebration this year.
Richard Woodard speaks to one of the most well-known figures in Scotch whisky - Billy Walker of Speyside's GlenAllachie Distillery.
Billy tells us about his 50 years working in Scotch whisky, explaining what drew him to buy GlenAllachie in 2017 and how he has sought to fulfil the potential he saw in the distillery’s spirit. But it’s not all about single malt, Billy also discusses blending an unlikely sideline into rum and how Scotch whisky has changed over the past five decades.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Jonathan Wilson, Visitor Centre Operations Manager at the Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery in Perthshire.
Jonathan tells us what it’s like being part of the Bacardi family, while living the history of Dewar’s; what their other distilleries of Macduff, Royal Brackla, Craigellachie and Aultmore bring to his work, and his 182-mile charity cycle which took him to each one; the beauty of blends and the process involved in their Double Double 32 year old; and the surprise bit of wildlife that they pulled out of their condenser!
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Roslyn Frame, Brand Engagement Manager at the Tullibardine Distillery in Perthshire.
Roslyn tells us about how her preconceptions of the Tullibardine Distillery didn’t match the reality; how the whisky changed when Terroir Distilleries took Tullibardine over, giving them access to their Burgundy casks; and what their on-site cooper and hand-crafted approach bring to the visitor experience.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Andy Bell, Head of Sales for Europe and the Nordics for the Isle of Arran Distillers.
Andy tells us about the Lochranza Distillery’s unique history, and the impact its founder had on the wider whisky industry. He compares the processes at Lagg and Lochranza, and tells us about their Project North and South, which brought the two spirits together.
When we spoke to Pierrick for the Lagavulin podcast, the Jazz Festival Bottling hadn’t been announced, but we couldn’t help but ask him about it.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Pierrick Guillaume, Distillery Manager at the Lagavulin Distillery on Islay.
Pierrick talks about the sights, sounds and smells of Islay, why he loves working at the Lagavulin Distillery and the journey that brought him there, and why he’s taken the Lagavulin 12 year old on holiday with him.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Mark Westmorland, global brand ambassador for the Wolfburn Distillery in Thurso.
Mark talks about the team at Wolfburn and how each of their strengths makes the Distillery thrive, how their motto of ‘Fortune favours the brave’ leads them in all they do, and how choosing his favourite whisky is like choosing his favourite child.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Paul McDonagh, owner of the world-famous Bon Accord bar in Glasgow.
Paul says a dram of whisky is like a conversation in your hand – there's so much to know and talk about from the taste to the way it's been distilled. He also tells us about what makes the Bon Accord truly special, the many whisky clubs that call it home, and his favourite dram, the GlenDronach 18 Year Old.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Lauren Mustard, Dufftown Distilleries and VIP Ambassador for the Balvenie and Glenfiddich Distilleries of William Grant & Sons.
Lauren tells us about the way Glenfiddich is experimenting with their whisky, the things she loves about both distilleries, and a charming denial of any family connection to the whisky industry, closely followed by several connections. She also tells us the story behind her favourite dram, the never-to-be-repeated, Snow Phoenix.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Rikki Scott, Visitor Centre Supervisor at the Aberlour Distillery.
Rikki talks to us about avoiding the power of suggestion at a tasting, connecting people to a whisky through their own experience and the memories it brings back for them. From the smell of your mother’s hairspray to the look on your father’s face as he came home from work, different whiskies evoke something different for everyone.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Gordon Dallas, Whisky Experiential Ambassador at the Glengoyne Distillery.
Gordon tells us about the famous Teapot Dram, how he took one of his tours to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, his love of history and how he’s really brought Glengoyne’s to life, including how alcohol pushed the evolution of the human species!
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Nick Savage, Master Distiller at the Bladnoch Distillery.
Nick tells us about his passion to protect and nurture the stocks at Bladnoch, his earlier work where he applied engineering concepts to improving the life of a cask, the theory behind Bladnoch's genius Waterfall series, and he gives his tasting notes on his favourite malt, the Bladnoch 14 Year Old.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Paul Graham, Visitor Centre Operations Manager, and Fraser Hughes, Distillery Manager, at the Ardnahoe Distillery.
Paul and Fraser talk about what makes this brand-new distillery unique and what brings people back to Islay again and again; Fraser has an unusual way to find a job if you’re looking for one in the whisky industry; and Paul tells us about his favourite of the Hunter Laing whiskies – the Scarabus.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Stewart Buchanan, Global Brand Ambassador for Brown Forman, who own the Benriach, Glendronach and Glenglassaugh Distilleries.
Stewart talks about the different whisky profiles of the three distilleries, gives his high points from the Benriach Distillery restoration, tells us more about the history of Glendronach and the surrounding area, and whets our palate with the tasting notes from the Glendronach Port Wood.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Helen McKenzie Smith, co-owner of the Lindores Abbey Distillery in Fife.
Helen tells us about the history of the monks at Lindores Abbey, how she and her partner raised the money to build a distillery and the importance of not being ‘Disney-fied’, their approach to bringing up people through their team at the distillery, and of course the release of their first Scotch malt whisky – the 1494!
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Jenna Collins, Visitor Centre Supervisor at the Strathisla Distillery in Speyside.
Jenna tells us what it means to her to work at the Home of Chivas after spending her career working in distilleries, why she thinks everyone should get to write their own tasting notes, and news of their Distillery Reserve Collection for 2020. And there’s even an interesting request from Queen Victoria!
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Peter Holroyd, Distillery Manager at Kingsbarns Distillery in Fife.
Peter gives us a deep dive into the production of their award-winning Dream-to-Dram, from the mixture of yeasts they use, to their long-distillation; from their cut points to how their mixture of casks gives such a fruity but rich flavour – and there’s a surprise in his comparison to a sweet-shop favourite.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Iain Allan, Visitor Centre Manager and Global Brand Ambassador at the Glen Moray Distillery in Elgin.
Iain tells us how the whisky has changed over the years, what he’d like to see change in the industry, and an amusing if slightly scary story about the history of the Distillery and its proximity to the old site of Elgin’s public hangings.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews John Fordyce, co-owner of The Borders Distillery in Hawick.
John tells us why he chose Hawick for the site of the distillery, why both the refurbished building and their focus on sustainability are so important to them, and why he thinks the industry should market blends with the same energy they market single malts.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews Annette Mackenzie, Visitor Centre Manager at the Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain.
Annette’s love of whisky is palpable and, as she tells us about the traditions of Glenmorangie brought down through generations of families working in the Distillery, she inspires us to experiment with different kinds.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews David Thomson, owner of the Annandale Distillery in Dumfriesshire.
David tells us how he worked with Dr Jim Swan on the refurbishment, using sensory profiles to design Annandale’s whisky and its plant. And he also has an unusual tale of how they found their water source.
Nikki Simpson from DistilleryTours.scot interviews the Glenturret Distillery's brand ambassador Jamie Morrison.
Jamie told us what it’s like to work for one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries, and whet our whistle with an evocative description of their Peated Edition single malt.