We’ve managed to drag the team away from the rum stills for 5 minutes to introduce them properly…

Kitty Harding, Apprentice Distiller

What’s your position, or how do you support TCDC?

I’m the apprentice distiller. This means that as well as learning how to make the rum by shadowing Tom, I also assist with the full range of jobs in the distillery from setting up the cold brew for Kalkar to the bottling and ladling. In addition, I support the sales team by attending trade shows as well as assisting with a range of other jobs at the Norton Barton Artisan Food Village.  

What does a typical day look like for you?

There’s no such thing as a typical day up here on site. I’m doing something different every day, it’s one of the joys of working here. The Cornish Distilling Company is based at The Norton Barton Artisan Food Village and all the companies up here work together so some days it’s even possible that we could be interacting with one of the other companies. Recently though, I’ve been quite heavily involved in the preparations for the opening of our new distillery building. 

What’s your favourite rum and the best way to drink it?

From our range I really love the Morvenna Spiced as a part of a rum and tonic water with a wedge of orange and some thyme. 

I also really love the aroma of the Old J spice rum, it smells kind of like a vanilla cupcake or something. 

What’s your favourite part of your job, or best memory?

My favourite part of this job is that there is always the opportunity to learn new things. The company is constantly evolving, and I’ve come in so early that we as a company are always growing and changing the way we do things. It’s a little but hectic sometimes but it’s never boring. 

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

If I could go anywhere at the moment, I’d probably chose somewhere warm.  Maybe take a trip to somewhere in the Caribbean and visit some rum distilleries. Failing that I’d really like to go to Peru and walk the Inca Trail.