An homage to the people of the world

At times, it can be difficult to see the world from others perspective. As I wrote in my last piece, the world can seem big and scary. We get caught up in our own lives, with our agendas, feelings, highs and lows. It is easy to overlook all the fantastical people walking around us, hidden in plain sight.

As I travel, I get to meet a plethora of people. A constant reminder of the ebb and flow of life, a small glimpse into what this world has to offer, of all the different decisions that are being taken, that shape not only their lives, but maybe also yours.

So, I decided I want to put some of the brilliant people I meet into focus. A way for any potential readers to remind themselves of all the amazing facets of life, that the world is not scary, but open and welcoming. An homage to showcase all the wonderful people out there, ready to help you on your journey.

Nestled on the west coast of Scotland, you will find a city that for some is primarily known for its iconic Whisky — Oban. Oban is a picturesque town, with a quaint harbour and McCaig’s tower, small boutiques on the side of the road, and of course the Oban distillery. A distillery still in operation after more than 230 years of distilling, a legacy carried on by generations of distillers.

Once you come inside Oban distillery, you will find a well-dressed, smiling man — Mark. Mark is the manager for the tour guides of the distillery, and like the distillery he represents, he carries with him knowledge that matures like the whiskey in the barrels.

One of the first things I noticed about him, was the pin on his vest. The flags of Denmark and Scotland crossed — as someone from Denmark, I was more than a little curious, and as we continued talking, it was made clear. His partner had done a semester in Denmark, my home country, and he had been by Copenhagen multiple times. The world is so big, and yet so small. Filled with the weird coincidences that takes up our daily days.

Before Mark moved to Oban, he had lived in Glencoe, one of the major attractions of Scotland, where part of Skyfall was filmed, where the Glencoe massacre happened, and overall, just a beautiful part of Scotland. Together with his partner, he had worked jobs that never really caught his interest, but he had found an interest — Whiskey. He quickly became the go-to person for whiskey knowledge wherever he worked, whether it was waiting tables, giving tours of Glencoe or introducing people to the magnificent country that is Scotland.

As this interest in whiskey grew, a chance a arose, a chance to work for one of the best-known distilleries in Scotland, if not the world. Oban was looking for someone that could improve their tour experience, to tell the story of the distillery, the story of whisky, as authentic as the whisky they so proudly produce.

Mark and his partner threw themselves at this opportunity with such a haste, that they ended up living in a modified van for the first six months, while they found a place to live.

Now three years later, life has changed. The van has been replaced by a home, and Oban what was just a mad grab to an amazing opportunity, now transformed into something more tangible.

What was just a passion and a hobby before, now turned into a full-time job. Mark seems to almost radiate when he gets the chance to talk about whisky, whether it being Oban whiskey, different distilleries, the value of Oban, the history of the distillery, and the responsibility a well-known brand like Oban carries. They have to be forerunners; they have to be innovative, they have to work together with other distilleries, and they have to show that a sustainable whiskey production is possible.

Mark said something that really struck with me, a thing that should be remembered.

The work we do is not for us, it is for the next generation. There are only a few people here at the distillery that will ever taste what they make.

What a wonderful way to look at life. That while you might not see the result of your work, your work is not in vain. That a thing such as whiskey, that will stay in a barrel, aging, is a gift from one generation to another.

With a mindset like that, the dreary days seems to glow a little lighter. A mindset that future generations will sow the fruits of your labour.

Meeting Mark was a joy, a regular person who went out of his way to give me this experience, not only of the distillery and its history, but also opening up to his own history. It is people like Mark that makes travelling so much more interesting, opens a brief window into his world.

If you find yourself passing by the beautiful small city of Oban, take a step inside the historic Oban distillery. Within it, you will find Mark who is ready to dish out his knowledge, with stories, facts and that ever present smile. He will be ready to give you a tour of not only the distillery, but the history of whisky, all the details of the entire process that this so tasteful nectar goes through, the new trends coming up, and how the industry is changing.

Here, at the end, I just want to say thank you to Mark. Thank you for giving me such a wonderful tour and taking the time to talk with me. I hope when anyone reads this piece, they will know that the world is not so scary, it is filled with people like Mark, who will teach you about things you know nothing about.

If you want to follow along on Marks journey, you can find him on Instagram, where he is slowly educating the world in the ways of whiskey.