Interview with Dawn Davies, Head Buyer for The Whisky Exchange and Speciality Drinks
- Dawn, you are head buyer for The Whisky Exchange and Speciality Drinks, did you always know this was the career for you?
I have always loved tasting things and exploring flavour even when I was younger. I, like most people when they are young, wanted to be anything from a palaeontologist all the way to an aid worker and everything in between. It was when I went to university and worked in a pub, and I fell in love with hospitality. I am a social butterfly, so it suits my outgoing nature and also I enjoyed learning about the different drinks so working in the industry just made sense. I worked in restaurants for 9 years and really felt that was my place but when I left The Ledbury I was approached to head up buying at Selfridges where I really discovered my passion for spirits. There was only one place to go after Selfridges which was The Whisky Exchange. I love the challenge of constant learning and my job at The Whisky Exchange gives me the opportunity to not only buy, but also to teach and speak on this wonderful world. I am not sure I ever thought I would get so far in this industry, but I am very lucky to love my job and to feel challenged constantly by it.
- What’s your favourite spirit?
That is like asking someone who their favourite child is! I am fascinated by all spirits and all of them have incredible stories behind them, but if I had to narrow it down I would say there is something about rum and mezcal that really makes me smile. Rum is all about the people and that sense of sunshine in every glass. With Mezcals, I think it is the link to the soil which reminds me of wine. The whisky world is becoming more and more fascinating with all the new distilleries appearing around the world! I guess you could say my favourite spirit is the one that suits the day and the people around me at that time.
- When did your love of wine kick in and what’s your favourite grape and region?
I grew up for a part of my life in Rome, where wine is a part of everyday life, and my dad always let me taste a drop of what he was tasting. I was always intrigued by the different styles and flavours wine held, so when I started working in restaurants it was wine that I was most drawn to. I am a big fan of Italian wine and love Nebbiolo and the region of Piedmont, but also love Portugal and the amazing local varietals they have there. I should stop now as I will keep going naming places and grapes I love.
- What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting a career in drinks?
Be prepared to work hard and never rest on your laurels, there is always more to learn. This is an industry that loves people with passion and who have a real love for what they do. Be prepared to work up the ladder and half the time it is your relationships with people around you that will help you not just what you know. Great places to start in are bars, restaurants and retail as you get a great opportunity to taste a lot and learn on the job. Really think about what part of the industry you want to focus on as this will help guide you into what direction you start in. Courses like WSET and mentoring programs like Equal Measures and Drinks Trust are also really great starting blocks. You will never be the richest person in the world, but it is a hugely rewarding industry to work in and you will never have a dull day.
- You lead the events team who set up the Champagne Show, Whisky Show, Rum Show and Cognac Show. Which is your favourite and why?
Favourites are so hard to pick! They are all unique and I love them for different reasons. Champagne show – well my first love is wine and who would ever not love a show all about bubbles? Whisky Show is the beast it is the largest one we do and just watching it all come together is fascinating and the camaraderie and sense of fun between everyone is wonderful. Rum Show is great from a liquid perspective, but is also the one that I have the most fun at. Cognac Show I love because it is such an under-appreciated category and we were mad to launch it but watching it grow each year brings joy to my heart. With two new shows next year ‘Welcome to Whisky’ and ‘Tequila and Mezcal’ I will have an even tougher choice to pick my favourite. The shows and the shops are the beating heart of our company the place we can create amazing experiences for people whatever your knowledge level.
- Who inspires you?
So many people inspire me, there are so many incredible people in our industry who have a wonderful amount of knowledge that they are happy to share. Dave Broom, Sukhinder Singh and Ryan Chetiyawardana who taught me so much about spirits especially whisky. Nobuko Okamura and Angela Hartnett who showed me how to be a strong woman in our industry that, especially when I started, was dominated by men. My mom who has incredible strength and tenacity. There are so many insanely amazing people who have given their time and their energy to help me over the years but every day I am inspired by my teams who work so hard everyday to make this business the best it can be. Their passion and love for what we do puts a smile on my face every time I have a bad day.
- Are there many women in drinks, or is this something that needs to improve?
The amount of women in drinks is absolutely increasing and has grown a lot in the 25 years that I have been in the industry. We can always do better and I think we still have a way to go to make people of all different walks of life feel like this industry is not one dimensional or a scary place to be. I have only had a positive time in the wine and the spirits world, but I know many have had a harder time. It is important to move forward together as one group and focus on how we can positively make people feel like this industry is more inclusive. My team is a melting pot of people and I think the more we can foster diverse teams the better our industry will become. The big issue I have faced is the pay gap which is something I personally have struggled with. Often times I have not had the conviction in my own worth to ask for a pay rise and that is something as women we have to actively challenge about ourselves until that time where pay is equal. There are some great initiatives out there to help the diversity issues in our industry but like everything there is always more we can do but I look forward to the day when I am not judged as a woman buyer, but just as a great buyer regardless of my sex.
- If your friends could describe you as a bottle of something, what would it be?
Champagne! No question about it, I have even got a bathrobe and a director’s chair with Champagne on it. I am definitely full of bubbles, the life and soul of the party and am not afraid to make a statement 😉
- What’s next for you in your career?
That is the big question, I feel I still have a lot I want to achieve in my career and in my role here. For the future I am not sure what that will look like – I have already had some of the best roles in the industry and am currently in one of them so what is next, well that you will all just have to wait and find out (including myself…)
- What are you most looking forward to at work this year?
The last few years have been challenging for this industry it feels like we have really been through the ringer. I feel more optimistic about this year. The world whisky scene is exploding, and I am looking forward to exploring new regions and new distilleries for example we have just launched the first Korean Malt whisky in Europe. Mezcal is the hot new spirit so hopefully that means tasting more of it! I am also excited for our two new shows and the challenges they will bring and hopefully with ‘Welcome to Whisky’ all the new whisky drinkers to help on their journey. I am also judging the drinks books for the Andre Simon awards so I am looking forward to reading all the new drink’s books out there. I look forward to just learning more and traveling more to really increase my knowledge in this incredible job.
Find out more > www.thewhiskyexchange.com
