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The girls
When you come up the drive you’ll see what a big distillery this is,
and when you get to the Visitor Centre, you’ll get a welcome to match
its size.
You’ll be greeted by either Marie, the Visitor Centre Manager, or
Nicola, her able assistant, with our seasonal guide, Lesley, also on hand
to help. Whichever one you meet, you’ll get a big warm smile and be
offered a distillery tour, followed by a complimentary dram of Tomatin
12 year old single Highland malt. If you don’t have time for a tour,
you can watch a video which explains the mysteries of whisky distilling,
and you’ll still get a dram! The staff are justifiably proud of ‘their’
whisky, and will be only too happy to discuss it with you whilst you enjoy
the taste.
Then take time to browse around the Gift Shop, which as well as stocking
all our current Scotch whisky brands, also has an extensive range of branded
merchandise and other goodies.
Many of the staff live on the site – Tomatin is one of the last distilleries
to provide housing for their employees. Marie is one of the few who has
to drive to work, from her home a bit further down the glen, which she shares
with Stuart, gamekeeper on a local estate, and two sons, Darren, 14, 3 years old Lewis and Andrew, 7 months old. It’s a busy life, but she loves it. Following in
the family tradition – Marie’s father was a Cooper here before
he retired, and her brother Kevin is a Stillman – Marie started work
as a guide more than 11 years ago. “I love to meet people from all
over the world, it’s a great job, and although it can be pretty hectic,
especially during the summer months, I wouldn’t change it for anything”,
she says. It’s a happy place to visit, as a quick look through our
Visitors’ Book will testify.
Nicola has just a short walk to work every morning, from one of the distillery
houses. Nicola married Robert in May 2005, who works in the warehouse (his
father Bob is one of our Stillmen – it really is a community here!)
Nicola began working as a seasonal guide in March 2003, took to it like
a duck to water, accepted the job on a permanent basis, and was promoted
to Assistant Visitor Centre Manager in August 2004. This rapid rise was
well deserved; at only 19 years of age she has a maturity beyond her years,
and the bubbliest personality you’ve ever come across! We nominated
her for Outstanding Young Person of the Year in the 2004 Inverness Tourism
Awards. She was runner up, out of more than 60 nominees; we’re very
proud of her. But on 18th November 2005 the Highland Tourism awards were
held in Drummossie Hotel Inverness where Nicola won Highland Young Ambassador
of the Year. Well done Nicola!
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