5 Minutes With: Nc’nean founder Annabel Thomas

WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY?
If I wasn’t in the food and drink industry, I’d probably either be in travel, or just on the outside of the industry looking in!

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
Working in a local pub.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
The opportunity to make a difference in the world, and businesses that seem to be doing so. Also nature – being in it, understanding it.

WHAT’S THE WORST JOB YOU’VE DONE?
That’s a hard one – no job is perfect but I’ve also been lucky enough not to have any truly terrible ones. The worst was probably one particular assignment at my old consulting firm which involved a lot of travel, not very nice people and a really boring subject matter.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE JOB?
Too many to list! Tasting our evolving spirit. Talking to consumers about our spirit and what we stand for. Hearing great feedback on the experiences consumers have had with our team on a tour of the distillery, for example. Being recognised publicly for what we are trying to do.

AND YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE?
Long hours and lots of travel (the latter is often fun, but I’d prefer it was a little less frequent).

HOW ABOUT THE FOOD INDUSTRY?
Favourite: How friendly the industry is, especially the whisky sector in Scotland.
Least favourite: The waste that some parts of the industry creates.

TEA OR COFFEE?
Coffee. (But ideally Earl Grey tea first thing and a flat white at 11am.)

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR LAST SUPPER?
Something cooked by the team at Duck Soup in Soho.

WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO?
I don’t really have a personal one, but I’m in love with Nc’nean’s: made by nature not by rules!

WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST THING YOU’VE EVER EATEN?
I had fried lung once at Bocca di Lupo – I wasn’t very keen on it.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK?
The Africa House by Christina Lamb.

SWEET OR SAVOURY?
If I really had to choose, savoury.