{"id":6245,"date":"2016-10-25T10:13:49","date_gmt":"2016-10-25T09:13:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewhiskylady.net\/?p=6245"},"modified":"2016-10-25T10:13:49","modified_gmt":"2016-10-25T09:13:49","slug":"exploring-south-african-whisky-master-distiller-andy-watts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewhiskylady.net\/exploring-south-african-whisky-master-distiller-andy-watts\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring South-African Whisky with Master Distiller Andy Watts"},"content":{"rendered":"

After exploring Italian, French, Czech, Indian, Swedish and other exotic whisky countries, I’ve now decided to go have a look at what’s currently going on in South-Africa<\/strong>, a well-known territory when it comes to wine, but what about whisky?<\/strong> Andy Watts, Master Distiller at The James Sedgwick Distillery<\/a>, agreed to answer a few questions and help me in my quest of malted knowledge!<\/p>\n

\"Afficher<\/p>\n

First of all, could you please tell me a bit more about yourself: where do you come from, career background etc. and how did you end up working as a Master Distiller for The James Sedgwick Distillery<\/a>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

My career did not start out with any intention of becoming a master distiller. I grew up in a country town in what was then the West Riding of \u00a0Yorkshire (now South Yorkshire) called Penistone and my dream was like most young boys at that time and that was to become a professional footballer. I did not make it at football but I did become a professional cricketer and that is what originally brought me to South Africa in 1982. As a young professional cricketer escaping the cold English winters I found myself in the Western Cape in a town called Wellington. There were a further two seasons of back and forth before I decided to make South Africa my home in October 1984.<\/p>\n

Throughout those early days in South Africa, as though almost by destiny, I had many moments of being in the right place at the right time on more than one occasion. As part of my cricketing contract I was obliged to do part time work for a sponsor, Stellenbosch Farmers Winery (SFW), the company which later merged to become what is known today as Distell.<\/p>\n

I was appointed full time by SFW as the Spirits Blending Manager in 1984. It was during the mid to late 80\u2019s that I was fortunate to be invited to Scotland on a technical exchange program with a company called Morrison Bowmore Distillers. I spent time working at their Glen Garioch and Auchentoshan distilleries, as well as time on the Isle of Islay at their legendary Bowmore distillery.<\/p>\n

It was whilst in Scotland that I got to meet and work with some of the most influential whisky leaders at that time \u2013 people with an incredible passion for whisky. Their enthusiasm and love for making and enjoying whisky I brought back with me to South Africa to head up the whisky operations at the James Sedgwick Distillery<\/a> in Wellington.<\/p>\n

\"james-sedgwick-distillery-hr\"<\/p>\n

What’s your personal relationship with whisky: first sipped? Any noticeable milestones on your whisky journey? Any favourite expression\/distillery\/profile?<\/strong><\/p>\n

My first experience with whisky was not necessarily a pleasant one however as I grew older I realised that it was more youthful ignorance than a problem with whisky which was the root cause of that first experience.<\/p>\n

The journey has been an incredible one\u2026..one which has included many projects with the upgrading and expansion of the distillery as well as the expansion of our whisky portfolio.<\/p>\n

The significant highlights are:<\/p>\n