Last Sipper with Alice Pearson
Alice Pearson became the UK’s youngest distillery manager when she took charge of whisky at Cotswolds Distillery
At just 25, Alice Pearson is already one of the most interesting young figures in British whisky. Now head of production at Cotswolds Distillery, she joined the operation straight out of school in 2018 on the bottling line and rose quickly through the ranks, learning every part of the process before moving into distillation and production. Still in her mid-twenties, she is widely regarded as one of the youngest female distillers working in the UK and became the country’s youngest distillery manager when she took charge of whisky production at the fast-growing English distillery.
What was your first dram?
It probably would’ve been Cotswolds Signature. I got into whisky here at this job. I remember wanting to love it straight away so bad, because I saw the process and I loved the look of the process, so I sort of knew that I would love it eventually.
Your favourite whiskies you’re drinking right now?
I’m a bit weird. I’m a one bottle at a time person. So at home I have one bottle and I don’t buy another bottle until I’ve sunk the whole thing. I don’t like trying a dram here and a dram there because I feel like I don’t get a full perspective on a whisky. Unless I’ve really sat with a whisky over and over again in different scenarios, I don’t feel like I get to know it. So I do one bottle, think about it, taste it – after a good day, after a bad day – and it makes me feel like I get a better, more rounded perspective. But the downside is it’s very slow moving and there’s still a lot of whisky for me to get through.
Go-to dram?
My go-to at the moment is a little expensive because I treated myself for my 25th birthday recently. It’s the Glenfarclas 25 Year Old.
What’s your culture fix?
I like physical theatre as a style. I really like modern reworks of Shakespeare plays. So I quite often go into Oxford and watch plays.
Favourite whisky bar?
The Hideout in Bath. A lovely place.
Favourite whisky cocktail?
Ooh, I absolutely love a Boulevardier – Campari, sweet vermouth and whisky. It’s my go-to. Although I’m a little bit weird and a bit lazy at home, so I have it room temperature, no ice, no garnish, just as is.
Where do you like to get away from it all?
I go off into the countryside. I go foraging. I play guitar at home. I’m a real kind of homebody.
Favourite whisky destination?
It has to be Islay for me. The people, the place is just amazing. Obviously the density of distilleries in one place but it really connects with me.
Most underrated whisky?
I loved Table Whisky by Port of Leith. I think it’s underrated. Obviously they don’t have the single malt out yet but as a first release, doing what you can with what you have, I think it’s a fantastic whisky and it does exactly what it says on the bottle.
What would be your last sipper?
I don’t know if I’ve found that yet. I probably need to shop around a bit more for that one.
