In Their Own Words – Alan Winchester, Master Distiller, The Glenlivet

Alan Winchester is one of most respected names in Scotch whisky. He has worked in a multitude of roles in the business, and was appointed master distiller of The Glenlivet in 2009. With the arrival of Glenlivet’s new NAS whisky, Founder’s Reserve, we spoke to him…

‘With Founder’s Reserve, we’re trying to use our inventory to our advantage but remain true to The Glenlivet. Founder’s Reserve is true to the Glenlivet pineapple-led style. It suits our Scottish sweet tooth‘

‘I began in the industry showing visitors round Glenfarclas distillery – Glenfarclas is right by my grandfather’s farm, actually. I joined Glenlivet in 1979, starting off as a cooperage labourer. Then I was elevated to cleaning the wooden vats, then firing the still – for the first 10 years, I never worked a steam-coil still. Then I became trainee brewer, then assistant brewer, and in 2009, became master distiller at The Glenlivet. It’s more of a passion than a career’

‘I start at 8am each day. My world is Glasgow in the south and Orkney in the north. On Tuesdays, I check the new-make spirit, and I regularly meet our malt suppliers, too. If some new barley arrives, we’ll do some trials. But the best part of the job is being involved in making the spirit’

‘I love working in the whisky industry, but coming from Speyside, you’re immersed in it‘

‘I think folk rediscover things. I’ve had the joy of bottling a 12-year-old Strathclyde – grain whisky is often dismissed, but I think it has lovely character‘

‘I’m very humbled that they have put the Winchester name on it [The Winchester Collection], and I’m very flattered to be involved. The 1964 was the first of the 50-year-olds coming through. We’ve been looking at the older casks for a year; it’s a watching brief. We’re very pleased with how the 1966 is coming along, too – that will probably be the next one’

‘In my free time, I love walking. I’m a great hill walker’

‘Which non-Pernod Ricard whiskies do I like? Well, we don’t have any peated whiskies, but I do like Highland Park and Talisker‘