Written by Steven Elliott

What is Craftsmanship?

In a modern world of industrialized, disposable, and unsentimental, the admiration for craftsmanship perseveres as a testament to the human touch. To create is to reveal what only the very few can see. In the short time I’ve been a member of The Sartorial Club, I’ve noticed what sets them apart is their undying dedication to the craftsman. No matter what industry, The Sartorial Club has been staunch advocates for the art of making the absolute finest quality good.

Club member Sam during the Paris field trip. Guided by renowned "Nez" Aurélie Dematons at Bureau de Parfum, Sam explores the nuances of high-end fragrances beyond the typical store experience.

The Spirit of Dedication

Now I won’t pretend to know every craftsman that The Sartorial Club has supported over the years, but it only took enjoying a glass of whiskey at a recent TSC event, for me to realize I wasn’t drinking just another run-of-the-mill spirit. No, this was a spirit with a story of commitment and unwavering stubbornness to the process. A whiskey that went beyond just the fancy bottle it came in. A Whiskey that was pure splendor.

The Glenrothe in action. Photo Credit: The Forte Mare

A Shared Pursuit of Excellence

The Glenrothes have been strong partners and supporters of TSC since 2022. Their whiskey is a testament to how a mastery of distilling and time come together to form one of the world's most preeminent whiskeys. Similar to the process of hand selecting the perfect fabric, textile, leather, or yarn, when creating a tailored garment, a fine whiskey requires an eye for detail and decades of experience.

Like most great things, the origins of great craftsmanship starts with determination to make the best, and, most importantly, ingredients of the highest quality. Whether it is the grain that is used for whiskey or a fine Italian fabric for a pair of trousers, starting with the purest ingredient is an essential building block from which all the best products are made. What is crafted from these ingredients is more than just a spirit or a suit. It's the dedication, expertise and knowledge distilled into every sip, swig, stitch or thread.

The Hidden Elements

150 Years. That's the time it takes for a distiller like The Glenrothes to become a master at their craft, and yet… They’ve continued their unchanged traditions, constantly learning and rediscovering the unique flavor profiles. Spirits like the 25 and 42 Year are testaments to their true, unhurried process. Much like the art of tailoring, time can be a true judge of quality. A bespoke suit, which might take anywhere from 8 to 14 weeks to produce, with proper care and storage, might last you 2 decades. In simplest terms: The best can take time.

However, time isn’t the only thing that makes a difference. What most don’t understand, it’s oftentimes the things that you don’t see, have the most impact. Something as simple as the water can be a major backbone and unsung hero of The Glenrothes final product. Using natural spring water with a perfect PH and mineral balance is key to their distinctive taste.

Drawing Two Parallel Lines

If we were comparing this to tailoring, picture the thread count of your garment. A higher thread count will feel finer, softer, more luxurious to the touch, while a lower thread count garment might lack that softness and durability. The Glenrothes commitment to their whiskey means they always sell a product that is pure, balanced and without compromise.

In addition, another unnoticed aspect to The Glenrothes whiskey, is the oak casks they use. A painstaking process in itself, selecting the right oak cask for their whiskey gives their whiskey its signature color, complexity, flavor, aroma, and texture, making it a crucial ingredient in the whiskey maturation process. Liken the cask to the hand padded chest or lapel of your favorite bespoke sport coat. Often overlooked, but without this crucial step, a jacket will not sit and shape the chest correctly.

TSC Club Cloth woven at one of the oldest mill in Scotland and crafted by Matthew Gonalez, is a perfect interpreation on what great whisky and tailoring garment have in common

Elevating the Experience: The Glenrothes and The Sartorial Club Partnership

It goes without saying, but the support that The Sartorial Club received from The Glenrothes is vital to the club's success. Their commitment to serving cocktails has elevated The Sartorial Club events beyond most social events. The quality of their spirits is only matched by the service that Matt Wozniak and Jennifer Blair provide to our members.

“Working with TSC and the team reminds me to always try and feel my best. I try to remember small details like matching fabrics, color blocking, etc. when I get ready every morning now. It makes me feel that much more confident and excited to piece together an outfit for the day.” Wozniak says.

Matt's and Jennifer’s knowledge and expertise on each spirit is unmatched. When it comes to hosting a whiskey tasting at the TSC event, The Glenrothes offers a unique experience that emphasizes the artistry of its whiskey making process, with an emphasis on its oak cask maturation. Members who are experiencing it can explore a wide range of spirits, from light and fruity to deep and sherried.

Mr Wozniak mentions, “I'm frequently reminded that our spirit is a luxury, and it gives me a smile when someone takes their first sip and says, wow.” Continue reading as Matt Wozniak from The Glenrothes team answers a few questions about what makes The Glenrothes unique.

Steven: How do you think The Glenrothes' unhurried production process and craftsmanship relate to the meticulous art of tailoring?

Matt: Much like hand selecting the perfect fabric, textile, leather, or even yarn, creating a luxury tailored garment requires a keen eye for quality and years of experience. The same can be said about our whisky. From the Water, chosen for its purity and perfect PH/Mineral balance, which is drawn from natural springs beneath the estate. To our grains, which are carefully harvested, malted, milled and then finally mashed to create what is essentially a sugary water called 'Wort'. Then finally to our distillation, which is a 2-x distilled spirit, at much lower temperatures and for longer duration, creating a uniquely creamy and fruit forward character. It is then barreled and set aside to age and gain the character from the oak for many years to come. This is sort of like finding organic cotton, pulling it from the plant, separating impurities, looming it into a string or yarn and then ultimately weaving it into a fabric. It's a long, tedious process where experience and oversight is crucial to the quality of the final product.

Steven: What type of details in the whisky production process are often unseen but affect the final results?

Matt: The water is a major backbone and truly the unsung hero. We use natural spring water found under our estate which has the perfect PH and mineral balance, straight from the ground. It's so pure that there's no need for chemical additives, reverse osmosis processes, or filtering of any kind. Just a quick pass-through UV light as a precautionary disinfecting measure, and it's ready to be used in all steps of our whisky making process. I would say that the quality of water used is ultimately akin to that of 'Thread Count' in the world of Tailoring. You can make a great product with lesser quality water, or lower thread count. But once you get up close and really get hands on with said item or spirit, you'll notice the quality difference rather quickly. Our Oak selection process is another massive contributor that most people don't get to see, but that deserves its own blog!

A river in Speyside, where The Glerothe distillery is located. Image credit: Scottish Field

Steven: Whisky Tasting has become a celebrated tradition at the TSC Event. The smell, colors, clarity, and viscosity of the whisky indicated a lot about a whisky's makeup. How would you compare the two, whiskey and the art of tailoring?

Matt: The wonderful thing is that it all comes down to personal preference. Everyone has a unique taste, just as they do a sense of style. There truly is no right or wrong, but with some experience and guidance, you can guide yourself to an experience that is much more rewarding, in my opinion. Just as you mentioned, those elements generally dictate the quality of a spirit. Smell, color, taste, viscosity, etc. This is akin to that of picking up a Blazer and feeling the fabric, is it well made? How does the material feel between your fingers? Is the stitching neat and consistent throughout? What additional complexities do you see? Is the fabric woven into a pattern? What is the inside lined with, if at all? I say this because there are so many ways to judge not only a garment but also a spirit. Knowing what to look for and more importantly, what you prefer, will lead you to the best experience possible though!

Steven: The Glenrothes have supported TSC over the years and have been an essential part to building the club’s refined culture. Has there been anything that the Sartorial Club has taught you at The Glenrothes?

Matt: Absolutely, It continues to remind us that our spirit is a luxury and that much as it is a reward, celebration, etc. It's also equally appropriate for every day. I’m not saying you should ever drink to feel good, but it should at least give you a smile or that 'wow factor' when taking your first sip. Much can be said about personal style and tailoring. There's an outfit for every occasion, but if it's Tuesday afternoon and you want to ball out and dress to the nines, go for it! Working with TSC and the team reminds me to always try and feel my best. I remember small details like matching fabrics, color blocking, etc when i get ready in the morning now. It makes me feel that much more confident and excited to piece together an outfit for the day.

Steven: Pending Confirmation, tell us more about how The Glenrothes pairs with food (in some general terms) and what The Glenrothes cocktails would be best for certain foods.

Matt: This is fun because there are SO many options to pair with our spirits! There’s really no true right or wrong when it comes to putting food with whisky, but there are definitely some general guidelines that are best to follow. Since our spirit is aged in Sherry Seasoned Casks, it is imparted with a unique fruitiness, nuttiness, and slightly oxidized characteristic. When you pair food and spirits, you want to accentuate the flavors found in the spirit, careful not to overshadow them or to choose something too light to stand up alongside the spirit. Common pairings include dried fruits, nuts, cheeses, chocolate, coffee, and cured meats. Pairing is best done with a dish that has an element or two that is shared with the whisky. For example, Pecan pie! One of my favorites. The baking spices and pecans found in the dish are two common tasting notes also found in the whisky. These should play off of each other and work in a way that makes going back and forth between the two a growing experience with each bite and sip. It's really all about balance and just playing around to see what works. If you can taste both your food and the whisky equally well, you're doing it right!

Over the years, this has been an incredible collaboration between The Glenrothes and The Sartorial Club, celebrating the art of craftsmanship in every sip and stitch. Stay tuned for more exciting partnerships to come!

(4) The Fabric of Craftsmanship