Jacqueline Sutherland works for Weymss Malts and is based in Edinburgh.

Paul McLean is the owner of MCLEANSCOTLAND & ANGELS WHISKY CLUB

Paul interviewed Jacque whilst they were both working at Helsinki Whisky Festival “Uisge” 

Jacque, thanks for the interview, I know it’s hard to answer when someone is looking directly at you! Good to see you here, when did you arrive and when home?

A; Arrived last night and after finishing the festival 11pm tomorrow, I will be up at 5am to get the flight home, zzzzzzzzzzzzz! No rest of the wicked! 

Q; you are not alone on the stand, who are the other guys?

A; Brewseeker, our importer here in Finland, are adorning Wemyss shirts today too! 

Q; have you been here before?

A; I have been in Helsinki twice before, last October I had a flying visit, here for 8 hours! Places to go, people to meet! 

Q; I know you are relatively new at Weymss, how long have you been there and what is your role?  (please be as liberal as you can, ta)  What are your day to day tasks?

A; I joined the Wemyss team January 2013, so one whole year now, as Regional Manager, which covers half the globe! As we are a wee team, that involves all aspects of the business, from selecting and naming the casks to be bottled, to looking after the markets our portfolio can be found in, visiting them to promote and build awareness of the brands in each market. 

Q; do you travel all the time?

A; No, it just feels like that! Never enough days in the week! I was overseas about 8 weeks last year but as I also cover UK, I can be away from home a lot. 

Q; what is your whisky history?

A; I worked weekends, even in my summer holidays from studying, promoting whisky liqueurs, I worked overseas for many years where I was expected to know about whisky and drink more than the locals so got to grips with the better known whiskies, then on returning to Scotland I found work in the trade and the past 7 years have been a steep (steeping) learning curve,  in all things whisky. 

Q; do you have a favourite dram – any dram?

A; Imperial, Caperdonich and Invergordon are favourites, depends on where, who, when! 

Q; I think we first chatted when you were at Duncan Taylor aye?

A; Yes, that was my first step in the world of independent bottling, where I acquired a taste for the above! 

Q; can you tell me anything about the future at Kingsbarns?

A; An amazing time to be with Wemyss, as the project takes off and comes to fruition, a new Lowland malt will be born and matured, near the ancestral home of the family. Kingsbarns will start production St Andrews day this year! (2014) 

Q; What (whisky) plans for the future – range? new releases? malt or blend?

A; We are always planning ahead, our latest single cask release is with the importers and distributors just now, to be allocated from start of March, then we do have plans for new gins and whiskies over the next few months, Non Aged Lord Elcho will launch first, so we are offering a premium blend of 40% malt, but a very affordable dram with no age statement, perfect every day drinking. With Elcho Castle on your door step, I look forward to sharing this one with you. (Paul, aye sooner the better!) 

Q; what is the best part of your job (apart from the pay cheque)?

A; Sharing great drams with great people, hearing the passion for what they experience. 

Q; can mcleanscotland/angels be the first tour into the distillery when ready?

A; Yes, along with thousands of others in the queue! 

Q; And what about your private life? Any other interest apart from whisky?

A; Yes, but you can read all about it in a copy of my book £20.99 from all good book stores! 

Q; Thanks very much, a pleasure chatting to you, now the festival is over, can we share a dram?

A; Mines a double! 

Paul and Jacque will be meeting up again soon for a dram or two, hopefully she can also meet up with some of the whisky gang from the Uisge festival, when they tour Scotland (again) in May. 

Paul; www.mcleanscotland.com   www.angelswhiskyclub.com

Jacque; www.weymssmalts.com