‘Just over a year. I’ve spent most of my career at various Scottish distilleries and I did a stint in Japan, too, but then I was offered this opportunity and it was too good to turn down.’

Japan, Karen thinks to herself, but before she can express her surprise, Thorstein Byle pipes up.

‘From what I gather, hiring you was a bit of a coup for the Groth family,’ he says with a smile. ‘You’re known as one of the industry’s top noses.’

William Tryste spreads his hands and returns the smile.

‘Let’s just say everyone’s happy,’ he replies. ‘For me, it’s a chance to move back home and be part of an exciting process. Groth’s distillery is obviously very small compared to most of its competitors, but quality has always been its watchword. And now, like I said, we have big plans.’

‘Oh?’ Byle says and leans forward.

Karen studies him with surprise. He hasn’t been anywhere near this engaged before. She would never have guessed whiskey would be what finally brought him out of his shell.

‘Oh yes,’ Tryste replies. ‘We’re going to take the fight to the Scots and the Japanese.’

‘I hear they make good stuff over there now,’ Byle says with a nod. ‘But personally, I would never buy Japanese whiskey. Or Taiwanese for that matter, I don’t care how good they say it is.’

‘You’re not the only one who feels that way. A lot of whiskey connoisseurs are conservative and would never buy a single malt from anywhere but Scotland,’ Tryste says with a smile. ‘But luckily for us here at Groth’s, enough of them will go where the quality is.’

He sounds like he’s reading a press statement, Karen thinks and leans back to wait for Byle and Tryste to finish their small talk. She doesn’t want to interrupt, now that her colleague is finally talking.

‘Yes, I’ve heard rumours about an expansion,’ Byle says. ‘Doubling your production, or was it even more? A lot of new jobs, they say.’

‘That’s not the half of it. I should really let Björn Groth tell you himself, but unfortunately he’s not here today. If you’re interested, I have some sketches and blueprints I could—’

Karen decides it’s time to bring the conversation back around to the reason they came.

‘Unfortunately, we’re a bit pressed for time,’ she cuts in. ‘As you know, we have some other things we wanted to talk to you about.’

‘Yes, of course,’ William Tryste says, and his enthusiastic smile winks out abruptly. ‘It’s terrible, what happened. Erling Arve informed me on the day. He’s the local priest,’ he adds as an explanation for Karen.