Rory Stone, Cheesemaker, Highland Fine Cheeses

Does making things for a living make you happy? Is perfection possible? Is the 21st Century really all it’s cracked up to be? These questions and many more are answered in the second episode of Knock Tales, as Knockdhu Distillery Manager Gordon Bruce breaks loose from his beloved whisky world to meet one of the big characters of Scotland’s food scene: Rory Stone. A second-generation cheesemaker at Highland Fine Cheeses in Tain, with award winning bries, cheddars, Mingers and the legendary Strathdon Blue to his name, Rory pulls no punches when it comes to the pros and cons of a life that involves 5am starts at the dairy each day.  Tune in to hear drams being uncorked and musings on the need for human decision making, Gordon’s take on the world of peat, Rory’s memories of a perfect night eating Minger in Boston….and why every day should be a school day when you’re making something by hand. They both may have clocked up the hours over decades perfecting their craft but, as Rory says: ‘When you say it’s perfect, you’ve just stopped trying.’   

Om Podcasten

Gordon Bruce is curious about craft. And in Knock Tales, the Knockdhu Distillery Manager and anCnoc single malt whisky maker meets people who know exactly what it takes to make the world’s most beautifully crafted and celebrated products. He’ll be sharing a dram with these fellow craft obsessives to get to the bottom of his favourite topic: ‘making things well’. There’s always meticulous process, traditional skills, impeccably sourced raw materials and a stubborn refusal to compromise. But it’s the personal pride and passion you hear in each story that is the making of a truly great craft product. As Gordon says: ‘Nothing compares to a product that has been made by someone, not just with their head but with hand, heart and soul. This is craft, and I’ll be sharing some great stories and a few secrets from people who, like me, spend their days making things to put out into the world for people enjoy. I do hope you’ll join us!’