What whisky? No, Watt Whisky – couple launch independent bottling firm

Have you ever come across a bottle of whisky with a label that isn’t the label you're used to seeing with a price tag that’s much lower than you expect from that distiller?

Welcome to the world of independent bottlers. There’s a new kid on the block in the independent bottler world, founded by well-known whisky couple Mark and Kate Watt – Watt Whisky have just released their first bottles and they aren’t messing around.

Mark and Kate between them have over 40 years of experience in the whisky industry. To go into that I would need another article but names like Springbank, Cadenheads and Royal Mile Whiskies appear on what can only be described as a true whisky lovers CVs.

The experience was, without question, there in abundance. Kate and Mark successfully crowdfunded to help secure their first cask and have just released five different drams, all-natural colour, no chill filtering and pretty much all cask strength.

Having known about Kate and Mark for a little while but never having met, we were very touched in the Malt Room when we received a package containing a bottle of their inaugural bottling alongside a much-appreciated letter acknowledging the struggles that the hospitality industry is facing.

There were no strings attached, just best wishes that this gift would help support the bar. We decided to use this bottle for “The Blind Leading The Blind” virtual tasting and invited Kate and Mark to join the tasting.

Having never met, I was a bit nervous about how the conversation would flow. However, after two minutes it became quickly apparent that Watt Whisky is very much on the same page as our approach to whisky here at the Malt Room.

At the end of the day, it’s an alcoholic drink and they have chosen good liquid that is there to be consumed, not collected. They don’t want to flood the market with endless releases, instead, carefully choosing casks that will offer customers variety and always quality.

The line-up that evening was stellar including a single cask from GlenAllachie and a Thompson Bros Linkwood and I can honestly say that Watt Whisky 16-year-old Orkney malt was easily my favourite.

If you would like to support these guys, while acquiring some awesome whisky, they’re available on the Whisky Exchange website. Fingers crossed we can open our doors again soon and you can be sure when we do, there will be some Watt Whisky on our shelves!

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