Interviews

Five minutes with...

  • Kyle Jamieson, Nauticus Kyle Jamieson, Nauticus Kyle Jamieson, Nauticus Five minutes with... 30 September 2019

    Kyle Jamieson, Nauticus

    The Nauticus co-founder on sourcing local, helping out small brands and the mighty Highball.

  • Max McFarlane, Ardgowan Max McFarlane, Ardgowan Max McFarlane, Ardgowan Five minutes with... 18 September 2019

    Max McFarlane, Ardgowan

    The Ardgowan whisky maker on his new blended malt and why Scots need to learn more about Scotch.

  • Dariusz Plazewski, Bimber Dariusz Plazewski, Bimber Dariusz Plazewski, Bimber Five minutes with... 04 September 2019

    Dariusz Plazewski, Bimber

    Bimber’s founder and distiller on his moonshine roots and why he struggles to collect whisky.

  • Andrea Wilson, Michter’s Andrea Wilson, Michter’s Andrea Wilson, Michter’s Five minutes with... 27 August 2019

    Andrea Wilson, Michter’s

    The master of maturation talks toasting levels, oak species and the joy of opening old bottles.

  • Michael Nelson, Brown-Forman Cooperage Michael Nelson, Brown-Forman Cooperage Michael Nelson, Brown-Forman Cooperage Five minutes with... 20 August 2019

    Michael Nelson, Brown-Forman Cooperage

    The cooperage director explains how it’s keeping up with demand for Bourbon barrels.

  • Rosey Mitchell, Three Sheets Rosey Mitchell, Three Sheets Rosey Mitchell, Three Sheets Five minutes with... 13 August 2019

    Rosey Mitchell, Three Sheets

    The London bartender talks blending with Compass Box and why Glasgow’s bars are underrated.

  • Angela D’Orazio, Mackmyra Angela D’Orazio, Mackmyra Angela D’Orazio, Mackmyra Five minutes with... 07 August 2019

    Angela D’Orazio, Mackmyra

    The master blender on how new world whiskies are challenging Scotch’s status quo.

  • James Doherty, Sliabh Liag Distillers James Doherty, Sliabh Liag Distillers James Doherty, Sliabh Liag Distillers Five minutes with... 29 July 2019

    James Doherty, Sliabh Liag Distillers

    The former William Grant executive is determined to bring whiskey making back to Donegal.

  • Graham Omand, Lagg Graham Omand, Lagg Graham Omand, Lagg Five minutes with... 11 July 2019

    Graham Omand, Lagg

    The distillery manager from Islay talks Lagg’s illicit roots and being James MacTaggart’s nephew.

  • Daniel Szor, Cotswolds Distillery Daniel Szor, Cotswolds Distillery Daniel Szor, Cotswolds Distillery Five minutes with... 18 June 2019

    Daniel Szor, Cotswolds Distillery

    The English whisky maker from New York talks collecting, crowdfunding and his ‘special’ cask plans.

  • Stephen Woodcock, Distell Stephen Woodcock, Distell Stephen Woodcock, Distell Five minutes with... 04 June 2019

    Stephen Woodcock, Distell

    Split between a trio of distilleries, Woodcock talks gin, guitars and Tobermory’s two-year closure.

  • Tatsuya Minagawa, The Highlander Inn Tatsuya Minagawa, The Highlander Inn Tatsuya Minagawa, The Highlander Inn Five minutes with... 28 May 2019

    Tatsuya Minagawa, The Highlander Inn

    The Highlander Inn owner on dinners with Michael Jackson, buying casks and Japanese bars.

  • Gemma Paterson, Balvenie Gemma Paterson, Balvenie Gemma Paterson, Balvenie Five minutes with... 21 May 2019

    Gemma Paterson, Balvenie

    Balvenie’s global ambassador on the art of storytelling and talking distillation in Russian.

  • Frank Murphy, The Pot Still Frank Murphy, The Pot Still Frank Murphy, The Pot Still Five minutes with... 15 May 2019

    Frank Murphy, The Pot Still

    The Glasgow publican talks converting newbies, Irish wood types and his beef with bottle flippers.

  • Cory Mason, The Oxford Artisan Distillery Cory Mason, The Oxford Artisan Distillery Cory Mason, The Oxford Artisan Distillery Five minutes with... 06 May 2019

    Cory Mason, The Oxford Artisan Distillery

    From bartending in New York to making whisky in England, the distiller talks rye and craft.

  • Mia Johansson, Swift Mia Johansson, Swift Mia Johansson, Swift Five minutes with... 18 April 2019

    Mia Johansson, Swift

    Swift whisky bar’s managing partner on making the ‘Scotch fairy tale’ accessible to all.

  • Diane Farrell, Talisker Diane Farrell, Talisker Diane Farrell, Talisker Five minutes with... 03 April 2019

    Diane Farrell, Talisker

    The distillery’s site manager on boat bars, maturation and the value of a good pair of hiking boots.

  • John Fordyce, Borders John Fordyce, Borders John Fordyce, Borders Five minutes with... 26 March 2019

    John Fordyce, Borders

    The distillery co-founder discusses his career – and why he doesn’t like the term ‘Lowland’.

  • Annabel Thomas, Ncn’ean Annabel Thomas, Ncn’ean Annabel Thomas, Ncn’ean Five minutes with... 05 March 2019

    Annabel Thomas, Ncn’ean

    Ncn’ean founder Annabel Thomas talks sustainability setbacks and why yeast is on the rise.

  • Jo Robinson, VisitScotland Jo Robinson, VisitScotland Jo Robinson, VisitScotland Five minutes with... 20 February 2019

    Jo Robinson, VisitScotland

    VisitScotland’s regional director on Speyside’s growing appeal as a whisky tourism hotspot.

  • William Wemyss, Kingsbarns William Wemyss, Kingsbarns William Wemyss, Kingsbarns Five minutes with... 11 February 2019

    William Wemyss, Kingsbarns

    Kingsbarns’ managing director talks distillery beginnings and the family’s roots in Fife.

  • David Fitt, The English Whisky Company David Fitt, The English Whisky Company David Fitt, The English Whisky Company Five minutes with... 04 February 2019

    David Fitt, The English Whisky Company

    The chief distiller at St George’s in Norfolk talks age, maturity and ‘brewer’s whisky’.

  • Mary McGregor, Bruichladdich Mary McGregor, Bruichladdich Mary McGregor, Bruichladdich Five minutes with... 24 January 2019

    Mary McGregor, Bruichladdich

    The distillery shop manager talks private casks and her family’s ties to Bruichladdich.

  • Helen Mulholland, Bushmills Helen Mulholland, Bushmills Helen Mulholland, Bushmills Five minutes with... 17 January 2019

    Helen Mulholland, Bushmills

    Bushmills’ master blender on innovation, the Irish whiskey boom and distillery expansion.

  • Aista Jukneviciute, Penderyn Aista Jukneviciute, Penderyn Aista Jukneviciute, Penderyn Five minutes with... 03 January 2019

    Aista Jukneviciute, Penderyn

    The Welsh whisky blender talks flavour experimentation and how whisky is becoming more like gin.

  • John McCarthy, Adnams John McCarthy, Adnams John McCarthy, Adnams Five minutes with... 20 December 2018

    John McCarthy, Adnams

    The engineer-turned-distiller talks yeast, ‘craft’ and the challenges of working with rye.

  • Allison Parc, Brenne Allison Parc, Brenne Allison Parc, Brenne Five minutes with... 06 December 2018

    Allison Parc, Brenne

    The Brenne whisky founder on the growing popularity of French single malt, Cognac and rhum.

  • Jared Himstedt, Balcones Jared Himstedt, Balcones Jared Himstedt, Balcones Five minutes with... 15 November 2018

    Jared Himstedt, Balcones

    Balcones’ head distiller on getting his start in craft beer and his quest for Texan peat.

  • Jill Boyd, Compass Box Jill Boyd, Compass Box Jill Boyd, Compass Box Five minutes with... 08 November 2018

    Jill Boyd, Compass Box

    The whisky maker talks humble beginnings, whisky transparency and what’s next for Compass Box.

  • Geoff Kirk, Macallan Geoff Kirk, Macallan Geoff Kirk, Macallan Five minutes with... 01 November 2018

    Geoff Kirk, Macallan

    The single malt’s head of brand development talks distillery openings and exotic Asian food.

  • Ervin Trykowski, The Singleton Ervin Trykowski, The Singleton Ervin Trykowski, The Singleton Five minutes with... 25 October 2018

    Ervin Trykowski, The Singleton

    The bartender-turned-brand ambassador talks cocktails, Game of Thrones and his hatred of PPM.

  • Tim Herlihy, Tullamore DEW Tim Herlihy, Tullamore DEW Tim Herlihy, Tullamore DEW Five minutes with... 18 October 2018

    Tim Herlihy, Tullamore DEW

    Tully’s US ambassador on single pot still’s rise, the Irish pub and egg farming.

  • Ciarán O’Donovan, Irish Distillers Ciarán O’Donovan, Irish Distillers Ciarán O’Donovan, Irish Distillers Five minutes with... 04 October 2018

    Ciarán O’Donovan, Irish Distillers

    The whiskey tutor talks education, non-oak casks and Midleton’s maturation experiments.

  • Tim Morrison, Clydeside distillery Tim Morrison, Clydeside distillery Tim Morrison, Clydeside distillery Five minutes with... 13 September 2018

    Tim Morrison, Clydeside distillery

    The Clydeside owner discusses his family legacy, fate and 1960s Bowmore.

  • Kelsey McKechnie, Balvenie Kelsey McKechnie, Balvenie Kelsey McKechnie, Balvenie Five minutes with... 04 September 2018

    Kelsey McKechnie, Balvenie

    Balvenie’s apprentice malt master discusses her inspirational mentor and envious friends.

  • Matt Hofmann, Westland Matt Hofmann, Westland Matt Hofmann, Westland Five minutes with... 28 August 2018

    Matt Hofmann, Westland

    Westland’s master distiller on US single malt, the success of Garryana and challenging convention.

  • Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Five minutes with... 16 August 2018

    Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s

    Jack Daniel’s assistant master distiller on toasts, charcoal mellowing, and MacGyver.

  • Jennifer Wren, Glenfiddich Jennifer Wren, Glenfiddich Jennifer Wren, Glenfiddich Five minutes with... 02 August 2018

    Jennifer Wren, Glenfiddich

    The US Glenfiddich ambassador talks single malt’s battle with Bourbon, and the new Fire and Cane.

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