Nottinghamshire &amp; Derbyshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-first-job-in-the-drinks-biz"><strong>Your first job in the drinks biz?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/White-Peak-drinking.jpg" alt="Man and woman clink whisky glasses at White Peak Distillery Derbyshire" class="wp-image-4580" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/White-Peak-drinking.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/White-Peak-drinking-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/White-Peak-drinking-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/White-Peak-drinking-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Co-founding a whisky distillery in Derbyshire back in 2016 at the age of 44, with my husband Max. Neither of us had any previous experience in the drinks industry, just lots of passion for whisky and Derbyshire. Now the <a href="https://nottsderbyshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/white-peak-distillery-derbyshire/">White Peak Distillery</a> is built, and our visitor experiences are up and running, I work mainly on the brand and marketing side of the business across all of our spirits (Wire Works Whisky, Shining Cliff Gin and White Peak Rum).&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-career-highlight"><strong>Career highlight?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>



<p>In whisky, delivering the bespoke Wire Works Whisky packaging for the launch of our first release in February 2022. I worked with a small design studio and a UK glass manufacturer and UK packaging manufacturer throughout lockdown. It was an 18-month design and manufacture process. It felt very much like building a house. The bottle and packaging have since won three prestigious awards for design. More importantly, I love the fact that the attention detail and consumer experience is really appreciated by the people who buy our whisky.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sum-up-your-drinks-philosophy"><strong>Sum up your drinks philosophy?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Life can be short, so quality is paramount.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-memorable-moment-at-work"><strong>Most memorable moment at work?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/White-Peak-wireworks.jpg" alt="Three bottles of White Peak wireworks whisky" class="wp-image-4588" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/White-Peak-wireworks.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/White-Peak-wireworks-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/White-Peak-wireworks-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/White-Peak-wireworks-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The day we launched Wire Works Whisky. It was a six-year journey from founding the business to having whisky to sell. The day was incredible. The online allocation sold out in less than 10 minutes, and then people were queuing from 8am in the morning at the distillery. We received a call to say the main A6 was snarled up with people queuing in cars waiting to get on site!   &nbsp;</p>



<p>Overwhelmingly the nicest thing was chatting to customers and the shared sense of pride they had in what we were doing. Some had taken the day off work to be there. That’s the power of whisky and the passion it invokes in people.  Max and I both had a little moment that day.  &nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-s-a-lock-in-which-famous-names-are-you-propping-up-the-bar-with"><strong>It’s a lock in, which famous names are you propping up the bar with?&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Gabby Logan, she’d definitely know how to hack a hangover and I enjoy listening to her podcasts and the guests she invites on, and the discussions around mid-life are all very relatable!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Alex Ferguson, football management genius. I’d love to chat to him about his time at Manchester United, he made management look so easy, recent history tells us it isn’t!&nbsp;</p>



<p>And Michael Jordan, former American Basketballer.&nbsp; Basically, I’ve created my dream podcast in the pub!&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-your-celebration-tipple"><strong>What’s your celebration tipple?&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Winston Churchill, with fish and chips!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-memorable-whisky-drinking-experience"><strong>Most memorable whisky drinking experience?&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Drinking whisky by a fire on a remote beach on outskirts of Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsula, Scotland. The sun was setting, and a curious seal popped up to say hello!&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-on-your-boozy-bucket-list"><strong>What’s on your boozy bucket list?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Whisky always! There are so many yet to explore.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-drink-deserves-more-appreciation"><strong>What drink deserves more appreciation?&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Personal appreciation from me would be a bloody Mary. I want to love them, I just don’t! As an alcoholic drink goes, they’re pretty healthy surely?&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-country-do-you-want-to-explore-just-for-the-drinks"><strong>What country do you want to explore just for the drinks?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>



<p>I’m going to struggle to limit myself to one. First would be the Italian Riveria in a classic convertible visiting the Liguria wine region. I’d be happy with any of the Italian wine regions though. France, the Burgundy wine region on a canal boat, jumping off to cycle and visit Chateaux and vineyards.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-holiday-drink"><strong>Favourite holiday drink?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>



<p>We always like to try the local wines, beers or spirits, so it varies. However, recently I probably drink Aperol Spritz on holiday fairly consistently (yet never at home)!&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-bar-gadget"><strong>Favourite bar gadget?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Big ice cube trays. Not sure they count as a gadget, but I love a big ice cube!&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-ingredient"><strong>Favourite ingredient?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Friends.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="716" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/081A8630.jpg" alt="A man and a woman taste whisky at White Peak Distillery Derbyshire" class="wp-image-4578" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/081A8630.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/081A8630-300x210.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/081A8630-768x537.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/081A8630-751x525.jpg 751w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-one-drinks-tip"><strong>Your one drinks tip?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>Drink less, drink better!&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-hangover-cure"><strong>Best hangover cure?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Prawn cocktail sandwich and cheesy Wotsits from M&amp;S. A staple of my mid twenties!&nbsp;</p>


Drinks on me: Claire Vaughan, White Peak Distillery

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