Rebecca Jago is the Managing Director of The Last Drop Distillers: curators, collectors and creators of the world's finest spirits. Ahead of the Distillers One of One - a remarkable auction of ultra-rare and unique Scotch whiskys, raising money for The Distillers Charity - we take a look at the remarkable moments that have shaped Rebecca's life.
Tell us about a remarkable moment in your career that has had a significant impact on you?
When Beanie Espey and I met for the first time in 2014 (even though our fathers had been friends and colleagues since the 1970s), it gave us both the confidence to embark on a completely new adventure: joining The Last Drop Distillers and taking what our fathers had created, and making it into something we hoped would be bigger and better but always true to their vision.
That opportunity changed my life and my career, and also brought with it one of the most wonderful and unexpected friendships. To be able to work together, and alongside our fathers, was an inspirational and truly remarkable opportunity.
Who has been the most remarkable person you've encountered in your professional life, and how have they inspired you?
Without a doubt my father, Tom Jago, who sadly died in 2018. His entire career was something of an accident but what a happy, inspirational and remarkable one it was. He began his career wanting to be a photographer, but came away from the (wrong) interview with a job as a copywriter! That led him into the world of drinks and finally to his role as head of innovation. There he conjured up ideas, which included Bailey’s Irish Cream, and set him on a path of imagination, innovation and “never say never” thinking. Tom was the most delightful company, and inspired all those who worked with him to do better, through encouragement, enjoyment and quiet humour. His view was always to see the best in people and opportunities, and never to dismiss an idea outright. I hope I continue to respect those principles.
What qualities do you think make a product truly remarkable, and how do you apply those principles in your work?
When James (Espey) and Tom started The Last Drop, the plan was to find tiny parcels of extraordinary spirits and bottle them so that a few people could enjoy the delights of what they had found. What makes a product remarkable? The sheer surprise and delight when you first taste something delicious: something unique and irreplaceable. But more than that, the memories that are made when you open and share that bottle with your nearest and dearest.
For us, remarkable means: unique, delicious, surprising and ready to share.
Every one of our releases is finite, every one is different, but we hope that our principles and standards ensure that – no matter what your personal preferences are, regarding spirits categories or even distilleries – you will trust us enough to discover new and remarkable tastes and experiences.
Can you tell us more about The Distillers One of One auction and Last Drop's contribution to it?
The Distillers One of One is a remarkable auction of ultra-rare and unique Scotch whiskies and experiences from brands and distilleries across the length and breadth of Scotland, taking place on 5th of October at Hopetoun House, near Edinburgh. 100% of the proceeds from the auction, run by Sotheby’s, will be donated to The Distillers’ Charity (the charity arm of London Livery Company, the Worshipful Company of Distillers), principally to the Youth Action Fund, which is dedicated to transforming the lives of young people in Scotland.
This year, we're delighted to offer a Bespoke Blending Experience with our brilliant Master Blender, Colin Scott. We'll invite the winner to join Colin and members of our team for a unique and personal blending experience at the original seat of the Kings of Scotland, Scone Palace, where they'll create their own, unique, Aged, Blended Scotch Whisky, drawing samples from our maturing casks of single grains, single malts and aged blends. Once the final blend is agreed, our designer will create personalised, engraved bottles (compliant with Scotch Whisky labelling regulations!) and the owner will receive a case of 12 x 700ml engraved bottles. The experience will end with dinner at Scone Palace and a tasting of some of the treasures from The Last Drop archive. We're delighted to be part of this auction, and to see how much we can help raise for The Distillers' Charity.
And finally...
If you weren't the MD of The Last Drop Distillers, what would you do?
Before joining The Last Drop, I ran a small graphic design business: however, I think I would be looking at opportunities to give back in some way: volunteering with one of the charities close to my heart (Shelter, Centrepoint, Medecins san Frontières), and spending more time discovering the wonders of the world.
What do you like to do when you're not working?
Apart from the usual: reading, cooking, travelling and catching up with friends, one of my best friends and I are on a mission to “collect” cloisters wherever we go: the last one visited was Monreale near Palermo in Sicily and was truly magnificent.
What's your favourite spirit, and how do you take it? I’d like to say I don’t have a favourite; “they’re all my favourites” as my friend and Assembly member, Drew Mayville likes to say. But for a dram, it has to be a nip of Colin Scott’s 50YO Signature Blended Scotch Whisky with a little water. The perfect “armchair whisky”, as Colin would say. And for a cocktail, a whiskey sour, made with Sazerac Rye and served straight up with egg white.
Find out more: Distillers One of One.
