Merry Christmas 

I cannot believe we are already buying Christmas trees. This year has gone by in a blur so unprecedented, I am a little bit shell shocked. Apparently this is normal as one gets older but as I like to think of myself as only recently out of shorts, so I hate to think what a year is going to feel like in 40 years’ time.
What news for 2016 at St Georges? It has quietly turned out to be a truly momentous year. On a personal level Katy (that’s Mrs Nelstrop) did terribly well and had a little boy which we named Alfred, which has signed off my brief population increase exercise with a perfect duo of 1 girl and 1 boy – couldn’t be happier. That will do though as I can’t do any more sleepless nights.

In May we thought the world would end as Sarah finally decide to leave the distillery after 8 years but contrary to fears the world didn’t end and Julian arrived to fill the gap and with the help of his team has moved us on to bigger and better things. Phew

Back to time racing along – can you believe it is 10 years since we opened? Which means 10 year old whisky. Not much of it yet as we didn’t make much in 2006 but enough for our Fellow & Librarian members to get a bottle of England’s 1st ever 10 year old single malt whisky!!!! I also get to take a bottle home and am very proud we have got this far. I am sure my father is sat on a cloud lapping up the Angels share and I hope he feels chuffed to have founded a whisky distillery that has kick started a national industry.

A few of you will have noticed the start of a re-brand. I felt it was time for a smarten up as we celebrated our 10th birthday. The Dragon has been retired, as too many people thought it was rather Welsh and poor old St George was a little lost without his dragon, so an all new design has been put together. The roll out of the new branding has started with Original & Smokey and will continue over 2017, I am very excited about some of the new packaging that is due out soon. It is very smart.

2016 also saw some more awards added to the trophy cabinet. Most pleasing was our distiller David was awarded Distillery Manager of the Year in the Icons of Whisky awards for the rest of the world; he automatically proceeds to the finals for global distillery manager. Good luck to him. Also our whisky was voted best whisky in Europe again for the 3rd time which is unprecedented.

The design for the new Shop & Bistro is nearly finished and if the weather allows we will start digging in January, I am a little nervous as I haven’t run a restaurant before but the team are confident – so hopefully by late summer, we will be able to feed you as well as pour you whisky. We will soon be advertising for chefs etc – so if you know of anyone…

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting us and to wish you a Merry Christmas.

Andrew Nelstrop, Managing Director.