Meet the Distiller: Hans and Becky Offringa, Saltire Rare Malt

What made you want to work in whisky?

Hans: Early on in my writing career (late 1970s) I became interested in Scotch whisky, not only because I liked the drink, but also because my fascination with the culture, the stories, the process, the people and the legacy of the drink.

Slowly but surely, I blended my passion with my profession and became a full time whisky writer and presenter. 

Becky: I joined Hans in 2005 and we formed The Whisky Couple. I am American but descend from Clan Fraser and grew up in Charleston, SC with tartans, history and whisky, so it was a perfect match. 

How did you get into the role with Saltire Rare Malt you’re in now?

We had been involved in another whisky project with Keith Rennie for about three years. When that came to an end, he invited us to play a role in the development of Saltire Rare Malt and we were appointed curators of the stock.

What is something surprising that people might not know about your role?

Becky: We not only taste the whiskies and write the tasting notes but are also involved in procuring new casks to broaden the stock.

Furthermore, we use our extensive network that Hans built over 35 years in the whisky industry to introduce the brand in other parts of the world. So we also act as ambassadors but do not have a sales and marketing role in the company.

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What characteristics are you looking for in the whiskies you curate and how do they represent the region/distillery?

We always look for balance and complexity. If a sample is unpleasantly dominated by for instance, peat influence or sherry [European oak] cask influence, it will not go for bottling.

However, if the sample is well-balanced yet ‘funky’ in the sense of being out of the ordinary for the distillery character, we may advise to bottle it. Funkiness, in this case, is a subjective thing of course.

What was the first whisky you ever tried?

Hans: Ballantine’s

Becky: Talisker

Are you working on any exciting new releases this year?

Yes, we have sourced the first casks for our cooperation with the American Steakhouse Hall of Fame that will exclusively carry Saltire Rare Malt as of coming autumn. An important breakthrough in the USA.

Who is your whisky hero?

Michael Jackson (1942-2007), the beer and whisky writer, not the singer/dancer. He has been a great mentor and we were honoured to translate his whisky books into Dutch, Hans’ native language.

If Saltire Rare Malt was a movie star, who would they be?

Becky: I hope that the brand continues to follow the example of Audrey Hepburn: grace, style and enduring appeal.

Hans: Impossible to say, the brand is so beautifully versatile that I cannot connect it to one singular character, but I think Becky comes pretty close.

Now describe yourself in three words

Hans: Passion meets profession

Becky: Aiming for perfection