Interview with Thijs Klaverstijn

-        Thijs Klaverstijn, thank you very much for your time. You are the author of the blog,  wordsofwhisky.com, for over ten years now, you are also writing articles for the prestigious Whisky Magazine, Gin Magazine and the Dutch magazine Whisky Passion.. You also contributed to articles on the famous and regretted scotchwhisky.com and on Distiller.com .. You don’t seem to stop.. Are you working on another project right now?

Well, I go on holiday occasionally, but you’re right, there’s always a few things percolating in the background. As I’m writing this I just returned from Glasgow where I attended a Decadent Drinks event celebrating the 100^th Whisky Sponge bottling. Yes, that counts as work. Or networking, at the very least. In a few days I’m visiting a small Dutch distillery to talk to its founder about the inaugural whisky they’re close to launching. That should make for an interesting article. Looking a little further ahead, there will be a Words of Whisky collaboration with one of the most exciting distilleries on the European mainland. You might know which distillery I’m hinting at if you’re a frequent reader of my website.

-     You also collaborated on the book “ Independent Scotch The History of Independent Bottlers” with David Stirk. Can you tell us more about this collaboration?

It’s David Stirk’s book first and foremost. He wrote ‘Independent Scotch’, which is based on his experiences and research. My contribution is modest in comparison, and it was simply very generous of him to put me down as co-author of the book. When he contacted me about possibly contributing, I was very surprised. He had come across an older article of mine about Cadenhead’s 175^th Anniversary, an adapted version of which ended up in the book’s overview of noteworthy independent bottlers. I then proceeded to write about a number of other independent bottlers to be included in the book as well. It’s a project I’m proud to be associated with. I’m looking forward to David’s upcoming book, Pioneering Spirits, about the new wave of whisky distilleries in Scotland.

-       We are seeing the reopening of “closed distilleries” and at the same time the opening of fresh new distilleries in the UK and around the world. The choice and the style of whisky has never been so vast to choose for the consumers. Do you think it could represent a challenge for IB or actually an opportunity?      

If you’re an independent bottler and not viewing this development as an opportunity, then you’re in the wrong business. Maybe not so much the reopening of closed distilleries. Diageo executives would rather chop off a limb than sell liquid from Port Ellen or Brora to an independent bottler. But all the new distilleries worldwide? There’s so much fantastic whisky made. I would say independent bottlers are spoilt for choice. Sure, I concede it is more difficult to get mature stock from established distilleries. That’s a real issue, because it’s harder to market relatively new, unknown distilleries, especially if they are not from the traditional whisky producing countries. But the whisky produced by these new distilleries is very worthwhile, often different and not stifled by tradition. That leads to remarkable whiskies that every self-respecting whisky drinker should want to experience. I love what Berry Bros & Rudd have done in recent years. They were the first to actively market distilleries from the Nordics. More recently they launched The Pioneers, a range of spirits from sustainable distillers around the world.                                                                                    

-    Your top 10 of the whiskies you have tasted include 3 Glen Grant from the 50’s bottled by Gordon and MacPhail . Does it make Glen Grant your favourite distillery? Or does it make Gordon and MacPhail your favourite IB? Or is it simply because you prefer old whisky style?

That’s a happy coincidence. Gordon & MacPhail bottles some of the oldest (and best) Scottish whisky available, and I’m just lucky they trust me to write honest reviews about their high-end products. That doesn’t make Glen Grant my favourite distillery, nor Gordon & MacPhail my favourite bottler.

I don’t really have a favourite independent bottler. However, there are bottlers I trust more than others. I’ve mentioned Decadent Drinks before. Angus MacRaild, their Managing Director, has very high, almost uncompromising standards. Their releases aren’t cheap, but you can bet they’re high-quality. I hold the Thompson Bros in high regard also, and Elixir Distillers do great things too. I like Hogshead Indie, a new-ish Dutch bottler, and have a fondness for Douglas Laing, Wu Dram Clan, Cadenhead’s, The Roots, Signatory Vintage, and many, many more.

As far as distilleries go, again, there’s not one single standout. I generally veer towards subtle peated whiskies, a preference that started years ago with Benromach, but also includes Bowmore, Springbank and Ardmore. Then again, I love Old Pulteney, not just because they make good whisky, but also for sentimental reasons. Their 17-year-old was an ‘Aha!’ moment for me. Looking at my personal whisky stock, Littlemill, Clynelish, Ben Nevis, Thy and Waterford also feature heavily.                                                                                               

-     Samaroli used to think whiskies get refined once bottled and left in the bottle for some extended time? Did you ever re-taste a whisky that way and realise that the whisky itself has really changed?

I believe in bottle ageing but can’t say that I have definite proof. I’m not sure anyone has. Even the best tasters probably don’t have a good enough organoleptic memory to be able to categorically conclude this. Say I bought two bottles of Bowmore 12, opened one immediately and the other in two decades time. I may have a vague memory of how that first bottle tasted, but it’s impossible to have a true head-to-head experience. Has this phenomenon ever been researched properly? I don’t know.

-       We are seeing a new generation of IB from different part of the world bottling not only whisky but also what we call now malternatives.. What is your take on that?

I’ve fallen in love with spirits through whisky. Single malt will remain my first love, but I have more love to share. Bring on the cognac, Armagnac, rum and genever. That’s right, genever. This predecessor to gin is an ancient version of aqua vitae, made from grains and with a subtle botanical influence. It predates Scottish whisky and is a great malternative. And no, I’m not just saying that because I’m Dutch (but it helps).

In general, I think it’s a good thing independent bottlers are branching out. For some it may have started from necessity, as well-aged Scottish whisky became more expensive and rarer. Others may have seen an opportunity to highlight spirits they love to a whisky audience. Either way, it’s hard to be against the availability of more quality spirits.

-       You only reviewed 2 Rums on wordsofwhisky.com ( Foursquare 2008 14YO and HD 2012 10YO both bottled by The Roots) . Is it something we, as readers, can expect to see more often in the future? And what about Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados… ?

Other spirits will feature occasionally, but whisky will always be the focus of Words of Whisky, followed by genever at a quite a distance. If my liver permits and I have the time, I will feature cognac, armagnac, calvados and rum also. I actually have quite a few malternative samples waiting to be reviewed.

-       Are there any festivals in the coming future that you would recommend attending?

I don’t often venture out of the Netherlands to visit whisky festivals, as we have a vibrant festival scene here. I’ve been to The Whisky Show, Spirit of Speyside and a few others, but would absolutely recommend Dutch festivals such as WTF Utrecht and The Art of Drinks in Amsterdam. Of course, I must mention the Whiskybase Gathering, even though it hasn’t been on for the last two years. Fingers crossed for 2025. In my opinion, it's one of the best whisky festivals in the world.

-       Are there any releases coming soon that you cannot wait to taste?

Not really, no. That may sound jaded. In truth, it’s partly because I’ve been spoilt with very good whisky over the last decade or so. I don’t necessarily get excited in anticipation of a whisky, unless it’s something truly unique that I know I’ve never experienced before. Or something that I’ve tasted before and I know is otherworldly. (There’s still a sample of the Bowmore Bicentenary somewhere in my sample drawer.)

In general, I get more so get excited during the act of tasting whisky. I like to be surprised, and it’s not surprising that a 70-year-old Glen Grant is good, no matter how exquisite it is. For example, whiskies that have surprised me in recent years were the Waterford Heritage Hunter, anything from Thy Distillery, the Indri Trini and certain releases from Shizuoka.

Most importantly, I get more excited about experiencing whisky (whichever one) with other people than I do about a new release.

-       Finally, Have you ever had the chance to visit Switzerland?

Does it count that I’ve stayed overnight a few times on my way traveling to Italy? Probably not. Sorry.