Welcome to Conversations at The Good Table, where today we have the pleasure of speaking with Ewan Gunn, Senior Global Brand Ambassador at DIAGEO. Ewan's role involves traveling the world, sharing his extensive knowledge and passion for Scotch whisky, and ensuring that the heritage and craftsmanship of this iconic spirit are celebrated globally.
Ewan Gunn's devotion to Scotland is a commitment. Etched in the rugged landscapes, carried by the ancient winds that have whispered through the heather and over the lochs for centuries; and it shows in his vivid descriptions of the NC 500 driving route, the Isle of Skye, and the iconic distilleries of Islay. Gunn's role at DIAGEO, one of the world’s leading drinks companies, not only allows you to explore these stunning landscapes but also to connect people worldwide with the magic of Scotch whisky. He's traveled to an impressive 84 countries, each offering unique experiences and insights, from the stunning Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg to the serene Gleneagles in Perthshire.
As Senior Global Brand Ambassador, Gunn plays a pivotal role in brand development, education, and media engagement. He's dined at some of the world's most remarkable restaurants, yet it's the hyper-local cuisine of a Lodge on the Isle of Skye that left an indelible mark.
From the latest AI innovations in whisky making to his favourite family recipes, enjoy learning more about the man, behind the whiskies.
Ewan, with your deep roots in Scotland, particularly your family connections to Islay, what are your top three must-visit spots that showcase the country's beauty and heritage, especially for someone visiting for the first time?
Well, I was born and raised in a small town of Wick which is right up in the far north of Scotland. So that part of the country is always going to hold a special place in my heart.
There’s a beautiful driving route there that starts in Inverness where I live now, called the NC 500, and it takes you around the entire north coastal route and it really showcases some of the most spectacular scenery and unspoiled beaches you’ll ever see. If you can, it’s worth taking a short detour and taking in the Isle of Skye as well. And it would be remiss of me not to mention that this route passes by our amazing Brora Distillery reopened three years ago after nearly 40 years of silence.
And if you do that Isle of Skye add-on it will give you the opportunity to visit the Talisker Distillery, which is also one of ours. We are currently doing a brilliant lunch partnership [at Talisker Distillery] with the really famous and amazing restaurant called The Three Chimneys.
So apart from the whisky, it is worth checking it out for that as well.
Back to Islay. Islay is somewhere I’ve been visiting since I was a child, initially on family holidays visiting my grandparents and more recently through work. In addition to owning Lagavulin and Caol Ila distilleries on Islay, we recently rebuilt the iconic Port Ellen distillery which had also been silent for over 40 years. And Islay is just amazing. Whisky is a really important part of Islay life, it’s embedded into the community. So I think there’s no better place to enjoy a dram on the island where the whisky is made. So, yes, I would include Islay on places to visit.
Scotland isn’t just about stunning landscapes, although we have many; the cities are amazing too. Inverness is great, Glasgow has one of the best live music scenes in the world and is one of my favourite places to visit; Edinburgh is just incredible. It has so much history encased in what is a small, walkable and easy to navigate city, it’s also home to Johnnie Walker Princes Street which I think should definitely be on everyone’s bucket list.
You've travelled to numerous countries and have a knack for balancing work and pleasure while travelling. How many countries have you visited to date, and what has been your most memorable hotel stay?
I’ve been to 84 countries now, some I have been to forty or fifty times, some I have only visited once, and some I will sadly never have the chance to visit again.
In every single place I have been I have learnt something and discovered something new. Now, that could be music, art, cuisine, cocktail culture or it could be meeting some wonderful people in these incredible places.
In terms of memorable hotel stays I have been very fortunate to have stayed in some incredible places all over the world.
Recently, I actually adored the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, it was wonderful. Late last year I stayed at the Sanya Edition Hotel on Hainan Island in China. It was a stunning place.
Closer to home it’s hard to look past Gleneagles in rural Perthshire - everything you do there is just brilliant.
I also recently had lovely stays at the Shangri La, Manila and also Kempinski in Singapore.
Given your extensive travel and public appearances, staying organised and maintaining a polished look must be essential. What are your go-to brands for clothing, luggage etc.?
Well for luggage, I actually just a few weeks ago just purchased an Airback. It’s essentially a compression backpack. It’s from a Dutch company and it was a kickstarter campaign which I signed up to and it’s arrived and I’m really impressed. They’ve also just launched an Airback Max which I will probably end up buying as well. I always take at least a couple of changes of clothing on my carry-on as well as the laptop, hi-fi kit etc and the Airback is really good for that.
Clothing-wise, I go for items that can be dressed up or down a little more casually. I quite like Reiss for that. I find that their suits, jeans and jackets can look smart or classy and also do things that make them a little more casual.
For shirts there’s a company called &Sons. I quite like their shirts because, again, you can dress them up or wear them casually.
Shoes. I really love Oliver Sweeney. I think their shoes are just great and they do a range of quite formal ones and brilliant boots as well.
As someone who loves exploring new cultures, you must have dined at some incredible restaurants worldwide. Which restaurant left the most lasting impression on you, and what dish would you go back for?
Actually it’s in Scotland to be honest. I was blown away recently by the dishes that they served in Edinbane Lodge on the Isle of Skye. It’s hyper-local cuisine. They literally tell you how many miles away each dish is sourced from. The meal was incredible. I think it’s some of the best scallops I have ever tasted.
I haven’t eaten at the Clove Club in London yet but the chef there, Issac McHale helped launch our host events when Port Ellen distillery reopened earlier this year. His menu was just spectacular. It was really thoughtfully crafted and just delicious.
Further afield, I had some really good food recently at some hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Bangkok and Jakarta and I found these courtesy of friends living out of these cities; I’d say the odds of finding one on my own again are pretty minimal but, yes I do enjoy that type of food as well. Anything that is made well with local ingredients and local flavour, I just love.
Do you enjoy cooking? If so, is there a family heirloom recipe that you hold dear and wouldn't mind sharing with us?
Yes! I wouldn’t say I’m amazing at it but I do enjoy it. I’m a big fan of simple, good quality food cooked well so my recipes are not particularly elaborate.
I do love a really good Tomahawk steak seasoned with a bit of salt and pepper, seared for just a few seconds on a super hot pan on both sides and basted with butter and rosemary and finished on a lower heat for a few minutes before being well-rested - really important. It’s my signature dish. Very simple but it just works.
Your love for music is evident with your extensive vinyl collection and the Scotch Sounds Radio show. If you could only bring three vinyl records to a desert island, which ones would they be and why?
Three?! That’s probably the hardest question I’ve ever been asked. I love music across so many genres, it’s really hard to trim it into three albums.
Massive Attack — Blue Lines
Fleetwood Mac — Rumours
Arcade Fire — Funeral
And if I can sneak in some Highlife and a little bit of Taylor Swift then I would take those too. But if you asked me again tomorrow then there’d probably be three completely different ones.
You've highlighted your Linn Sondek and custom IEMs as standout purchases. Can you share what makes a high-quality audio experience for you and why these particular pieces are so significant?
Yes they are. For me it’s all about experiencing the music as fully as possible. So having as few distractions as you can is essential. Linn, they do such a good job across their full hi-fi range. Everything is handmade in Scotland. Each Sondek is fully built by one person; their name actually goes on a plaque on the back which is super cool. The sound quality is so good that you find yourself setting everything aside so that you can just focus on it and nothing else.
And I suppose that applies to some of the custom IEMs I had made. They were created by a company called Cosmic Ears. Basically they’re made bespoke to my ear shape so they’re essentially the same as the monitors that musicians wear on stage. It means that they completely isolate any external noise which allows you to really focus on the music.
What has been your best purchase this year?
My best purchase recently. It’s actually been a lifetime Roon subscription. Roon is a software, you also need dedicated hardware as well, but it brings together all of your music in one place and then it lays in rich metadata. This helps you learn about the music you have and also discover new music based on the music you enjoy. It’s an incredible piece of software. It’s also got a really cool mobile app which means you can listen to music stored on your home server from anywhere in the world. I love that because I’ve got quite a good digital collection as well and this means I can listen to my music from wherever I am - incredibly clever.
As someone immersed in brand development and media, is there a recent advertisement that has particularly caught your eye? What about it resonated with you?
There’s some good advertising out there, there’s a lot of not so good but I saw a brilliant advert recently from VisitOslo, Is it even a city? shared on social media.
It basically features someone listing all the problems with Oslo in a deadpan, flat voice. While that’s going on, the images on screen show the problems are actually the thing that makes the city wonderful. For me it was just so clever, I loved the dry wit.
What is your favourite room in your home, and what makes it special? Additionally, can you share an object in your home that you cherish for its sentimental value and its story?
My favourite room is actually my kid’s playroom. Before they were born it was my whisky and vinyl room which made for a cool place to spend time with friends, enjoying music and whisky together. Now, along with their toys and games, [minus the whisky and vinyls] it’s a brilliant place to watch them learn, play and have fun together.
Where are you travelling this year for pleasure, and what drew you to this destination?
Holidays are a bit different now that we have children. We haven’t taken them on any long-haul flights or spent a month roving India or Australia, for example, but we’ve had a few holidays closer to home that have been really rewarding and enjoyable. Earlier this year we spent a week in an Agrotourism hotel in Umbria for some spring sunshine.
This weekend we are going camping on the west of Scotland and later this year we are spending a week on the Isle of Mull. It’s where my wife’s mother’s family is from so it will be nice to take the kids there.
Describe your ideal day when you're on annual leave. What activities or experiences do you seek out to relax and recharge?
I try to do something very chilled to be honest. A long lie in, which I don’t get many of, is always nice. Maybe we’d go mountain biking with the family and have a picnic lunch somewhere. If the weather is good we’d have a BBQ in the afternoon and a nice dram of Mortlach [watching] the sunset; Simple pleasures but they make a day nice.
How do you see AI impacting the world of whisky? Are there any exciting innovations you foresee or are involved with?
Good question. I think it’s still quite early to see if or how it will impact whisky making but we are actually using AI to help visualise flavour data.
The whisky makers we have at Port Ellen distillery, they did a really cool collaboration with a company called Bose Collins. They are a data and design studio and they worked together to design an algorithm that created a piece of art derived from thousands of data points mapping the evolution of smoke as our Port Ellen Gemini whisky matured. The result was visually stunning and quite a mesmerising piece of shape shifting art that takes a huge amount of scientific data and distills it down into something really beautiful. That’s something you will be seeing more of in the near future.
If you weren’t in Whisky, what would you be doing and why?
My other passion is music. I have always been quite envious of people who get to choose which music tracks are used at which part of films and TV shows. I really love the way it can shift the viewing experience. I think it would be tremendous fun but also a very interesting job to do.
You were introduced to Scotch by your father on a family holiday in Islay. If you could gift him a bottle in 2024, which one would it be and why?
My first dram was a Lagavulin so it would have to be that. We actually just had the annual Fèis Ìle festival on Islay and we launched a phenomenal 29 year old expression of Lagavulin which a lot of people have commented that it is the best whisky they’ve ever tasted.
It can only be purchased at the distillery though so you would need to travel there and buy it which I would definitely consider a trip worth taking. So it's this Lagavulin that I would definitely gift my father.
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