Generally, I sit and write this letter in a surprisingly quick period of time, it simply appears to circulate, different years… not a lot. This yr is a not a lot yr.
I desperately wish to lay into politicians and their incapability to make actual and helpful modifications; I most desperately need them to have a look at their very own yard and surprise why they want 34% extra civil servants (that’s a further 200k individuals!!!) immediately than in 2016. We do, in any case, have computer systems which are relatively quicker and higher than we had again then to do the shape filling, and we positively have much less likelihood of getting an individual to reply our calls.
While lining their very own nests, they’ve determined to un-line yours, and from my perspective, this isn’t a naturally tremendous strategy to encourage progress, which they preserve harping on about. Rant over.
2024 has been a rare yr for The English Whisky Co. The yr began slowly with gross sales not fairly hitting the hoped-for heights we so optimistically set, however simply as frowns had been growing into everlasting scowls, one among our core vary of whiskies got here to the rescue by successful one of the vital prestigious awards on this planet of whisky. The English Sherry Cask Matured was topped the World’s Finest Single Malt. What an impressive strategy to take away frowns and lighten the temper. Gross sales blossomed, workers cheered up, and the advertising and marketing group bought busy. From that time on, 2024 simply flew by in a blur.
I’ve absolutely the luxurious of leaving all of the onerous work to Mike, Lee and Katy and as an alternative spend my days attempting to look busy, however in actuality, I’m simply pondering the subsequent helpful factor I can do to make their lives a bit simpler. So, after a superb day of stated pondering, I green-lighted Warehouse 5. Our largest and finest but (effectively, largest anyway). This new warehouse will permit us to mature over twelve thousand casks on-site – it is a lot. A typical cask holds about 300 bottles of whisky, so at any time, we’d have practically 4 million bottles of whisky maturing on web site, which ought to preserve us going for some time. The brand new warehouse can be trialling new types of dunnage (the strategy of holding a cask to ensure it doesn’t roll away) and can, I consider, make work simpler and smarter on-site. Let’s hope so, because the shed is now constructed.
The Grain Kitchen (our distillery bistro) has been open underneath new operators for a yr now, and they’re so good at what they do. The meals is scrumptious, the workers are pleasant, and the place is busy – good for them and good for us; it’s best to go to.
The opposite momentous change this yr has been the full revamp of our distillery store. Solely a yr in the past, the providing was just about restricted to whisky (excellent whisky 😊), glassware and books. The inexperienced mild was given to remodel the providing, and now now we have a mix of whisky, homewares (to these of you want me who weren’t certain – that is massive matches, smelly candles, beautiful rugs, humorous playing cards, tremendous chocolate and so on and so on), beautiful meals choices, extra however improved glassware and much extra. Oh, together with tremendous fancy tins of tea – that are extremely common; it’s best to go to!
We’ve additionally revamped the convention amenities; they bought air con, a brand new paint job, a wall of casks and a few comfortable chairs – all of which have proved so common that we now make use of somebody simply to take care of occasions – or relatively she sells the house and the prevailing group, who gladly are very busy, should take care of all the additional guests for occasions.
While I get the job of claiming sure to varied tasks, it’s Katy who suggests various them in a means that generally I’m not even conscious I’ve agreed to, however this seems to be working because the distillery is busy and energetic and most significantly worthwhile this yr – phew.
Apparently, I’m meant to be signing off on a child’s playground in order that moms (and naturally fathers, grandparents and anybody else roped into being out with their youngsters) can eat in peace, however on the present fee, further automobile parking might have to return first.
Away from the Distillery, now we have attended extra occasions than ever, have poured extra whisky for showgoers than ever and unfold the phrase. Subsequent yr, we are going to proceed this and, hopefully within the spring, will publish an inventory of the place we can be for these of you who can’t get to Norfolk (no passport wanted, and the gate on the A11 stays open more often than not).
Away from our inexperienced and nice land, exports have gone effectively. I used to be even tempted into leaping on a airplane or two to go to India to see whether or not they like whisky – sure, they do, rather a lot. Sadly, their authorities chooses to levy very giant tax charges on the import and sale of whisky, so for now, our clients are prone to be the 1% of the 1%… however that’s nonetheless numerous whisky-loving Indian individuals. Let’s hope it’s a market that works, and we make extra lifelong mates within the business.
As all the time, an enormous thanks to my great group and a fair greater thanks to you all for supporting us on our journey. With out your help, we wouldn’t exist. A bit of teaser for 2025, we turned 18 earlier this yr, which ought to imply now we have some enjoyable releases within the pipeline.
Wonderful, after my little rant, it did circulate, clearly, it’s good to open up.
Merry Christmas to you all, I hope you could have a effective time and discover some great household and mates to share a glass with.
Yours Sincerely,
Andrew Nelstrop
Chairman
