Phil owns together with his brother Simon and their parents the beautiful Dornoch Castle Hotel, sporting one of the best Whisky Bars in the world. The brothers are true expert in the field of vintage whisky and have opened lately a new Distillery called “Dornoch” http://dornochdistillery.com which will focus on trying to “reproduce” old style scotch, they will use high quality machinery and ingredients and also will focus more on long fermentations and slow distillation rather than trying to make a fast buck cutting corners. And if anyone can do this in my opinion it is the Thompson bros, they are indeed maniacs when it comes to details about making Scotch and very very well read and informed, Simon has read and re-read basically every single book which was ever written on the subject and Phil is a great and honest man who will give it his best shot on trying to make whisky as good as it once was. Well, over to him with the questions:
Phil and Simon Thompson
1. YOUR LOVE FOR THE SPIRIT… HOW DID IT ALL START?
15 years old in the original Dornoch Castle Bar. We had a small selection of bottles, including a Macallan 1975 25yr Anniversary Malt. When I tasted it, I knew there was something different and unique compared to the other bottles on the bar – I could not describe it or really understand it, but I knew I loved it
2. YOU’RE GOING TO A DESERT ISLAND, YOU CAN TAKE 3 BOTTLES WITH YOU…
Brutal question Diego! I am always looking for that true dessert Island dram, and I hope I always will be.
Port Ellen Queens Cask – This was a mind blowing, unique, beautiful whisky, but the memories of drinking it with amazing friends on Islay will always remain with me..
Bowmore 30yr One of 3 drawn from a cask and bottled for the 30th Anniversary of the SLTN in 1994 – I cannot wait to see your face when you taste this one!;-)
Glen Mhor 1937-59 – Soon to be open at Dornoch Castle
3. BESIDES WHISKY, WHAT IS YOUR PASSION IN LIFE?
Music was always my first passion. I should play more, I miss slapping out some funk!
4. GIVE SOME ADVICE TO THE NEW COLLECTOR and DRINKER
Don’t take it too seriously. In the words of Mr Valentin, ‘It is only booze’
5. WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE, if anything, in today’s whisky-world
So so much….perhaps a question saved for when I see you and we have a dram of fantastically fruity old distillate!
knowhisky 