W&T started off as one person with a passion for whisky, and too small a cupboard space (and drinking time!) to explore all the bottles they wanted to!
That person is me- Bekky!
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be someone who drank whisky. More than that, I wanted to be someone who enjoyed the experience! Films and television have a lot to answer for and up until a few years ago, my experience of whisky drinking had been limited to swigging back a big gulp of Glenmorangie in the style of the “hero having a hard day” that is so often shown on the big screen.
Fortunately some good friends moved back up to Scotland, and when we visited I was able to get some, er, training in the area, which greatly improved matters! Since then I’ve been diligent in my practice…
So why do I love whisky?
I love it for the connection to the past. Whisky can’t be rushed, and the patience and care that goes into creating it, really speaks to me. Many things will have changed over the years, but that dram will have been sat there, watching it all pass by. For me it’s a reminder that in a world where everything changes & nothing stands still, that everything will still be ok. No matter what happens, the world will carry on, and whisky will be there with us to raise a dram to love, life and the universe.
Why is inclusivity so important to me? As a queer vegan who sometimes thinks differently to others, I often find myself feeling like the odd one out in the room. I wanted to belong to a club where everyone was welcome, and that was reflective of life and the worlds I walk in. There didn’t seem to be one… so Whiskers and Tales sprung up. A group where I could come and enjoy whisky, where we could create a community and be ourselves, giving space to stories that might not otherwise be told. Everyone is welcome at W&T. We’re different.
Black lives matter. Trans lives matter.