Featured in the Independent
A doctorate in chemistry comes in handy when you’re making a coffee spirit. Emma Henderson speaks to a master distiller.
“I became a distiller 12 months ago”, says Tom Read of the Cornish Distilling Company, “13 months ago I didn’t have a clue”. That, of course, doesn’t mean the end product isn’t a worthy rum. Kalkar takes its name from the word for “weaver fish” in Cornish – a nod to Read’s lifeguarding days. It was awarded three gold stars at the Great Taste awards in August.
Featured in Forbes Magazine
Although tradition reigns in Cornwall, there is a younger generation of Cornwall men rising up to create new opportunities where the diminishing fishing and mining industries have left a vacuum.
Tom Read a former lifeguard and a biochemistry Ph.D. graduate heads up the team at The Cornish Distilling Company.
Cornish rum and coffee spirit, Kalkar, is an award-winning local product and their soon to be completed new distillery will allow them to scale up production to meet the growing demand for authentic Cornish rum.
Featured in Cornwall Live
A lifeguard turned rum-maker from Bude is proof to Cornwall’s youngsters that you do not have to cross the Tamar Bridge to become successful doing what you love.
Tom Read, 31, became the head distiller at the Cornish Distilling Company just under a year ago – a month before starting he “didn’t have a clue”. That in itself is pretty remarkable considering his ingenious combination of rum – which he makes completely from scratch – and coffee saw his first spirit, Kalkar, bring home three gold stars in the Great Taste Awards.
Featured in Cornwall Live
Cornwall is keeping up with the ‘Rum revolution’ thanks to a former lifeguard turned distiller from Bude.
Tom Read, head distiller of The Cornish Distilling Company, has spoken with Cornwall Live in the past about his intriguing transition into rum making and love for all things Cornwall.
Now he has shared exciting news, in the form of two new rums and work to build a new distillery.