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Love Letters from Britain

The Balvenie

In the small Scottish burgh of Dufftown, the historic Balvenie Distillery has been maturing its craft across generations. There is no book on how to make The Balvenie Single Malt, instead it is passed on by hand and by story from master to apprentice. Passing his whisky secrets down the line of succession, malt master David Stewart is inspiring the next generation by combining historic customs with modern passion and flair. This is The Balvenie's Love Letter to Britain.
12th Jul 2021
Love Letters from Britain The Balvenie An interview with Alice McSherry, Global Marketing Manager, The Balvenie

 We wanted to tell the story of dedication and passion that goes into making every drop of The Balvenie and how our whisky makers pass their craft through the generations.  

 

Alice McSherry, Global Marketing Manager at The Balvenie



 

LOVE LETTERS FROM BRITAIN IS A NEW SERIES OF SHORT DOCUMENTARY-STYLE FILMS UNCOVERING THE UNTOLD STORIES OF UK’S MOST INNOVATIVE LUXURY BRANDS, PRODUCED FOR WALPOLE BY BBC STORYWORKS COMMERCIAL PRODUCTIONS AND INCLUDING STORIES SUPPORTED BY THE GREAT BRITAIN & NORTHERN IRELAND CAMPAIGN.    

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE FILMS.

 

To find out more about the project, we interviewed Alice McSherry, Global Marketing Manager at The Balvenie.

What was your motivation for taking part in the Love Letters from Britain series? 

To share the untold stories about our whisky and the people behind the making of it. We wanted to tell the story of dedication and passion that goes into making every drop of The Balvenie and how our whisky makers pass their craft through the generations. We were delighted to have the opportunity to partner with world class documentary makers, the BBC, to tell our special stories and to share these with their international audience.  

Tell us more about your film and the stories that are being shared? 

The film explores how The Balvenie makers combine rich history and dedication to tradition with a passion and flair for innovation. Starting at the distillery, Gemma Paterson, The Balvenie Global Brand Ambassador, gives an insight into our 125 year history and the people who have dedicated years of their lives to honing their skills at every stage of the whisky-making journey.    

The film then shines a light on the story of our Malt Master, industry legend, David C. Stewart, MBE, and his apprentice Kelsey McKechnie. Having dedicated almost 60 years to The Balvenie, David is now working with Kelsey as part of her ten-year apprenticeship to enable Kelsey to become the eighth Malt Master for The Balvenie. The documentary showcases the work that David and Kelsey are doing to maintain the quality and consistency of The Balvenie alongside their passion and dedication to exceptional craft and innovation.    

What do you think makes British luxury so special / the best in the world? 

It’s a unique combination of respecting tradition and heritage, while also striving for innovation. The British brands that truly define luxury have done so over years of dedication to their craft ensuring quality and attention to detail, while also pushing the boundaries of creativity.  

 Established in 1887, William Grant & Sons is an independent, family owned distiller with Scottish roots and a global reach. You can find out more about us at www.williamgrant.com.

 

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