Heroes
Emily Chappell: The Artistic Narrator Behind That Boutique-y Whisky Company's Unique Labels
Published 15/09/2023
In the buzzing world of whisky artistry, Emily Chappell stands as a force of creative might and imaginative prowess. As the ingenious brain behind the visually captivating and quirky label designs of That Boutique-y Whisky Company, her work narrates the rich stories housed in each bottle through her vivid canvases, transforming them into visual masterpieces that breathe life and character into the spirit they encapsulate. The Birth of a Whisky Art Maestra From her formative years nurturing a passion for art, to her educational foundation in textile design at the University of Derby, Emily’s journey into the whisky domain was a natural transition, fueled by a canvas ripe for creative exploration.
Emily Chappell: The Artistic Narrator Behind That Boutique-y Whisky Company's Unique Labels
Mark Reynier: The Visionary Behind Bruichladdich's Revival and Waterford's Terroir Focus
Published 15/09/2023
In the dynamic world of whiskey entrepreneurship, Mark Reynier stands as a figure of innovation and foresight. Leading the revival of the Bruichladdich Distillery at the turn of the century, and pioneering a “terroir-focused” approach at the Waterford Distillery, Reynier has etched his name in the annals of whiskey industry legends. Reigniting the Flames at Bruichladdich In December 2000, Reynier embarked on a daring journey to breathe new life into Bruichladdich, a distillery that had initially cost £6.
Mark Reynier: The Visionary Behind Bruichladdich's Revival and Waterford's Terroir Focus
Bessie Williamson: The Remarkable Journey of the First Woman to Head a Scotch Whiskey Distillery
Published 15/09/2023
Bessie Williamson: The Remarkable Journey of the First Woman to Head a Scotch Whiskey Distillery Introduction In the whiskey aficionado circles, the Laphroaig distillery is renowned for its foreground smokiness, a characteristic that has defined its legacy. Yet, fewer are familiar with the sterling contribution of Bessie Williamson to this legacy. Taking the helm of Laphroaig at a time when women were largely confined to roles as secretaries or cleaners, Bessie emerged not just as a figurehead in the distillery but also in breaking gender barriers in the industry.
Bessie Williamson: The Remarkable Journey of the First Woman to Head a Scotch Whiskey Distillery
Michel Couvreur - Last of the Mohicans
Published 08/06/2021
In the vicinity of Beaune, the Belgian Michel Couvreur begun making wine in Burgundy in the 1950’s. While trading Burgundy in Scotland, Michel met Ian Tennant of The Glenlivet, who was as enthusiastic about his wine as he was about his whisky. This led to a 25 year study of the magic of this ancient way of making uisce beatha. So traditional was his approach that he earned himself the name ‘the last of the Mohicans’.
Michel Couvreur - Last of the Mohicans
Dr. Jim Swan - The whisky magician
Published 08/05/2021
A personality little known to the general public, but a highly recognized personality in the whisky industry, was Dr. James Sneddon (Jim) Swan. The trained chemist was a long-time expert and advisor to the whisky industry and helped shape many of the whiskies that we can enjoy today. Swan died on February 17th, 2017 at the age of 75 and left us a legacy of excellent whiskies from all over the world.
Dr. Jim Swan - The whisky magician