The so-called parlour turns out to be a living room with oat-coloured sofas and an impressive art collection on the walls, while the rest of the décor looks like it’s from the late-nineteenth century. The Groths have indulged in a few modernisations, Karen notes, looking around, but most of the features seem to have been preserved from when the house was first built. The architecture exudes the same fin-de-siècle spirit as William Tryste’s office in the distillery building.

They sit down, the Groths in one of the two sofas, Karen in the other.

‘Do you live alone in this wing?’ she asks.

‘Yes, and really, it’s much too big since the children moved out,’ Björn Groth replies. ‘But it’s tradition for the owner of the distillery to live here.’

‘We’re actually the third generation,’ his wife adds. ‘Björn’s grandfather started the company.’

‘But I believe your daughter lives in Gudheimby, is that right?’

‘Yes, but Madeleine is a silent partner. She and her husband Elias run a real estate company in Ravenby, so there’s no point in them living out here. And a modern house would undeniably be more comfortable than this draughty old manor for us, too. But, tradition is tradition.’

Laura Groth speaks very clearly but sounds a bit forced.

‘And your son, Jens? His title, is it Head of Sales?’

Björn Groth nods. ‘That’s right. He and his wife live here, in the other wing. Sandra is probably asleep, but I think Jens is in his office.’

‘Sandra has come down with a fever and a terrible headache,’ Laura Groth explains in a worried voice. ‘I’m afraid she’s caught the flu and I honestly don’t know if she’s in any state to talk . . .’

She trails off.

‘We’ll see,’ Karen replies evasively. ‘We’re probably going to have to talk to some of you more than once. But right now, I just want to ask you and your husband some basic questions.’

She’s met with solemn nods and continues.

‘Let’s start with the reason you threw such a big party.’

Björn Groth clears his throat and runs a hand through his brown hair.

‘Well, with everything that’s happened, I feel weird saying it, but we wanted to celebrate, simply put. The company is going to see a lot of changes this year and it’s important to us that our employees feel part of that.’

‘As you know, this is a family business and loyalty is important to us,’ Laura Groth adds. ‘Several of our employees have been with us for over twenty years.’

‘How many employees do you have?’

‘Whiskey-making is largely seasonal, at least if you do it in the traditional way. At peak times, we employ fourteen people in addition to Jens and myself.’

‘And I’m told a number of those employees were here last night with their partners.’