I’m Pete Allison, director of whisky and co-founder at Woven Whisky. I’ve worked in spirits for the past 15 years across whisky, beer and wine, but whisky’s always been the constant. We started Woven in 2021 – myself, Duncan McRae and Nick Ravenhall. We’ve been friends for a long time and always shared a fascination with whisky, especially blending. It’s always felt like the most creative, expressive part of the industry. That’s what drew us in, and it still does.

The roots of Woven go all the way back to working behind bars in Scotland, during that wave where bartenders were becoming students of whisky. We were researching, learning, tasting, falling in love with whisky in all its forms. That energy pulled us into the industry, and eventually into the idea of creating something of our own.

Woven was built out of that shared passion. We’ve always loved the people, the culture, and the creative potential of blending. The idea that you could take individual casks and build something greater than the sum of their parts was really exciting. We wanted to bring artistry back to blending. To work small, work thoughtfully, and create whiskies that were entirely their own thing. That’s what Woven is.

It’s been a journey of curiosity, experimentation and community. At the start, it was just the three of us selecting casks, making the first blends, figuring out what worked. Those early batches gave us the confidence to grow – not just in terms of whisky, but in ambition.

And now, the thing I’m most grateful for is the people. From the distillers and bottlers to our collaborators and internal team, we’ve built something creative and collaborative. Everyone’s shaped Woven in some way. That shared process is what’s carried us to this point.

What am I most proud of? Honestly, it’s growing Woven from three of us hustling to make something real, to now having this incredible team around us. People who challenge us, inspire us, and bring their own energy into the mix. Seeing that shared vision come to life, learning from the people around me, that’s been the proudest part of the journey so far.

I think it starts with the bottle. It’s modern, minimalist and distinct. It speaks to people who might not typically see themselves in the world of whisky. Woven is for people who care about flavour, design and creativity.

Then there’s the whisky. We’re not working to a formula. Our blends are bold, balanced and expressive. And there’s a community aspect too. Woven was built by people – friends, collaborators, and creatives – and we try to keep that spirit alive in everything we do. It’s open, curious, and made to be shared.

We love Rapscallion. They’re completely aligned with how we think - flavour first, thoughtful, and beautifully made. The drinks taste incredible, they look great, and they pair fantastically with our whiskies. We’re genuinely big fans of what Gregor and the team are building.

My favourite pairing is probably Superblend with Rapscallion Burnt Lemon. The sharpness of the lemons and that slight burnt edge works so well with the whisky. It doesn’t overpower or clash, it complements. For me, it’s a really drinkable, easy serve - perfect for the garden while the kids are playing, or as a pre-dinner drink in the winter. It just works.

We’ve got a couple of big projects on the go. One is a more accessible whisky – something beautifully balanced, full of flavour, and made to be enjoyed every day. Still crafted, still complex, but a bit more inclusive in terms of price and approach.

The other is bolder and more expressive – a malt-driven whisky that uses components from some unexpected countries. It’s intense, unusual and really fun to work on. Both are taking up a lot of time at the moment, but they’re pushing us creatively, and that’s where we love to be.