Paul McLean was talking to Alasdair Dickinson, European Brand Ambassador; Bowmore, in Finland, February 2014 at the Uisge whisky festival.
It was cold over in Helsinki, but it didnt stop everyone enjoying a dram or two!
Paul; Hello Ally, It was very nice to meet you at Uisge whisky fest in Helsinki, it was quite a busy wee time for us there, you were on the stand and hosting masterclasses, did you manage ok over the two days? A; I had plenty of support from Wennerco, who distribute our products in Helsinki. They had 3 people alongside me on the stand with excellent knowledge of our products so that helped massively when things got busy.
Q; Who did the set up and take down for you? It was a big stand with lots in it! A; Once again, Wennerco took care of that side of things for me. Everything was all set up when I arrived and apart from a little housekeeping at the end it was all taken down for me too, something I was very grateful for.
Q; how did you get a job in the whiskey industry? and have you always been with Bowmore A; I’ve been working in the drinks industry for around 10 years now. Specifically whisky for 3 years where I began working at Auchentoshan Distillery. I’ve always been with Morrison Bowmore which includes Auchentoshan, Bowmore, Glen Garioch and McClellands.
Q; How long have you worked for Bowmore? A; 3 years in total. I began working as a tour guide at Auchentoshan distillery, then I was Business Development Executive in London and now I am European Brand Ambassador. It’s been an amazing 3 years with some fantastic experiences.
Q; You know a lot about the whiskies, how long was your settling in process? A; As a born and bred Scotsman I guess whisky has always been in my blood. Through working in bars I learned a lot about whisky and my time at Auchentoshan helped me understand the production process. I still feel as if i’m learning more every day so you could say I’m still settling in….
Q; Is it hard being away from home? A; At times it can be hard to be away from my partner and home comforts. Technology helps keep me in touch with home and the warm welcome I receive abroad always makes me feel instantly settled.
Q; Is there a country you are desperate to get to that you have not been before? A; Probably too many to mention but a big one for me is Russia. Luckily I’ll be visiting there this year so the wait won’t be too long.
Q; Where are you from and where is home now? A; I’m from Glasgow originally and I now live in a town called Hitchin in Hertfordshire. It’s a small market town but within close reach of London and it’s major airports. The perfect balance for my job. Glasgow, will always be home for me however.
Q; When you have holiday time where do you go? A; I tend to go on city breaks, I’m not much of a beach person and prefer to explore cities and all they can offer. This year however I will be spending time in Bordeaux and Cognac, relaxing and visiting some vineyards and cognac producers.
Q; When not working, how do you relax? A; For me relaxing is going for a run or playing football for my local Sunday league team. I also enjoying reading and going for walks in the country with my partner Kaye.
Q; do you have a favourite whiskey? A; I wouldn’t say I have a favourite whisky, however there are whiskies that are special to me as they remind me of a certain time. For example I opened a Bowmore Tempest III to celebrate my move to London last year. When I have a dram of it, it always reminds me of that moment of celebration.
Q; Apart from any Bowmore, what would you drink on a cold winters night? A; Glen Garioch 1999 or Auchentoshan
Many thanks and I hope to bump into you again on the whiskey trail soon!
slainte Paul
MBD – Morrison Bowmore Distillers
Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd,
Springburn Bond, Carlisle Street, Glasgow, G21 1EQ
