When did you
first get involved in the Whisky Industry and why…I
got into the industry by several strokes of luck! I grew up
at Macallan distillery so was always surrounded by whisky
but it wasn’t until I turned 18yo that I got a job behind
the bar at the famous Craigellachie Hotel – Quaich bar which
at the time had around 800 whiskies in the bar. It was then
just a short (6 year) jump from their via Edinburgh and
Royal Mile Whiskies, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and
Napier University to working for Duncan Taylor where I have
been now for nearly 7 years. You are a relatively young person for the job you have, did that worry you at all at first? When I first started doing tasting etc a lot of people wouldn’t take me seriously with quotes such as “I have been drinking whisky longer than you have been born” so what do you know kind of attitude but that slowly has disappeared – possibly due to the increasing addition of my grey hairs!
So far
what has been your proudest moment in the Whisky Industry?
Several proud moments looking back – such as
as a 19yo holding a question and answer session during the
Speyside whisky festival for an audience at the
Craigellachie hotel with the late Michael Jackson. Will
always remember Michael saying “Well that’s one way of
looking at it Mark!” But the highlight would have to
becoming the first ever Young Ambassador of the year from
Whisky Magazine.
What are
your
day
to day tasks?
Day to
day I have to look after my Export markets as well as
overseeing all sales markets, I also am involved with the
selection of all of the casks at Duncan Taylor and the
writing of tasting notes for bottlings. Most days involves
some form of whisky analyses which if I am brutal honest is
the bit I enjoy the most on a day to day basis.
Relaxing at home what whisky would you pour yourself? It changes probably on a daily basis. Often I take “work” home with me! I have always been a believer in having many open bottles in the house so that you can find something to fit your mood every time. That said I always have a Caperdonich on hand and a black bull (12 for everyday and 40yo for every second day! Ok well actually for more special drams). There is usually an open bottle of Highland Park, Springbank and Imperial.
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You travel
the world
often, do you have any favourite places?
It
has to be Japan – I have been going there for the last 10
years and I love the place. The Japanese people are so
friendly and so knowledgeable about whisky. Some of the
best whisky bars in the world are in Japan – I definitely
suggest that any lover of whisky visit and the Japanese
whisky is bloody good too!
Where do
you
see
this industry being/going in 5 years from now?
Difficult one but as new markets emerge and their thirst for
whisky develops the industry does look to be going in the
right direction. The industry needs to focus on quality and
keep coming out with innovated ideas and not get stuck in
the past and passed by the next fashionable drink culture.
There has
been a huge increase in whisky tourism, has it affected you
and your work?
Well my
first job at the Craigellachie Hotel was very much about
whisky tourists. For us we are seeing more and more people
visiting us in Huntly from all across the globe – living in
Dufftown we are very much in favour of whisky tourists and
it always amazes me that when talking with people around the
world that know whisky the amount of people that have been
to Scotland specifically for whisky. More of them need to
come to Speyside though!
What is your least favourite part
of the job? Not
being able to afford all of the whisky I want to buy!
Probably the worst bit is that I constantly seem to be on
the Red eye flight 6:05am out of Aberdeen airport or waiting
in airports for connecting flights. What is your favourite part of the job? Amazingly after the last answer my favourite part is the travelling – before I joined Duncan Taylor I had been in about 3 different countries in the last 7 years I have been to over 30 different countries. I really enjoy seeing new countries and different cultures. The other real thing I enjoy is being able to talk about whisky with like indeed people – that is why I really enjoy doing all of the whisky shows and tastings around the world.
IF you could work at any one
distillery, or any one brand, do you have any thoughts on
this? I am
more than happy at Duncan Taylor as I don’t have the
constraints involved with working with one distillery day in
day out – everyday I have new whisky to play with. If
forced to choose one it would probably be Macallan (unless
it could be Caperdonich) due to me growing up at the
distillery. Just chatting to you, you seem very involved in whisky and all there is to it, outside of this what are your interests? Interests outside of whisky would be hmmm tricky question really – I follow Aberdeen so an interest in Football is limited, I would probably say good food, good company and even more good whisky. Many thanks Mark, a good chat over a good dram is always happily accepted!
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