EPISODE · Aug 14, 2025 · 26 MIN
John Swinney: First Minister of Scotland
from Cask to Glass
Three weeks ago, US President Donald Trump came to Scotland on a private visit. During the trip he met Scottish First Minister John Swinney at his golf course in Aberdeenshire, where the two men discussed trade, tariffs and whisky.In an exclusive interview for 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀, Mr Swinney reveals details from those discussions as well as his own affection for whisky, especially Aberfeldy and Glenmorangie.Of his talks with Mr Trump, Mr Swinney says; "I was making the pitch for the Scotch whisky industry and for Scotch whisky to be exempt from tariffs." Adding that he told Mr Trump the United States would also benefit if Scotch was exempted from tariffs because Scotland imports $300 million worth of bourbon barrels every year from the United States.And Mr Swinney says he reminded Mr Trump that Scotch whisky is like Kentucky bourbon: "Where Kentucky bourbon can only be produced in Kentucky, Scotch whisky can only be produced in Scotland."So does he think Mr Trump might now exempt Scotch whisky from the current 10% tariff which, according to the Scotch Whisky Association, is costing the industry £4 million a week?"I think President Trump has this on his radar now. I don't think he had it on his radar before he came to Scotland. I think he came to Scotland thinking that the US-UK trade deal was all concluded and that that was it."As well as telling John about his discussions with Mr Trump, Mr Swinney reveals that he gave Mr Trump a framed copy of the handwritten entry in a ledger from the parish of Tong on the Isle of Lewis recording the marriage of the President's great grandparents in 1853, along with "an extract from the 1921 census from Stornoway which includes, of course, for the first time in the census record, his mother, Mary MacLeod, at the age of nine."Aside from telling John about his meeting with Mr Trump, and discussing the significance of whisky to both Scottish identity and the Scottish economy, Mr Swinney, who doesn't drink "an awful lot of alcohol nowadays", admits he does have one or two particular whisky favourites: "I'm very fond of Aberfeldy whisky from my own constituency in North Perthshire. Also, I suppose habitually, I've probably been very fond of Glenmorangie. And that's been very special to me."So tune in for the whole interview.Slàinte!-------Socials:@C2GWhisky@JohnRossBeattie Creator & producer: David HolmesArt work & design: Jess Robertson Music: Water of Life (Never Going Home)Vocals: Andrea CunninghamGuitars: John BeattieBass: Alasdair VannDrums: Alan HamiltonBagpipes: Calum McCollAccordion: Gary InnesMusic & Lyrics: Andrea Cunningham & John BeattieRecorded & mixed by Murray Collier at La Chunky Studios, Glasgow, ScotlandSpecial thanks: The Piper Whisky Bar, 57 Cochrane Street, Glasgow, ScotlandFollow The Piper on Facebook to keep up to date about tastings and other events Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What this episode covers
Three weeks ago, US President Donald Trump came to Scotland on a private visit. During the trip he met Scottish First Minister John Swinney at his golf course in Aberdeenshire, where the two men discussed trade, tariffs and whisky.In an exclusive interview for 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀, Mr Swinney reveals details from those discussions as well as his own affection for whisky, especially Aberfeldy and Glenmorangie.Of his talks with Mr Trump, Mr Swinney says; "I was making the pitch for the Scotch whisky industry and for Scotch whisky to be exempt from tariffs." Adding that he told Mr Trump the United States would also benefit if Scotch was exempted from tariffs because Scotland imports $300 million worth of bourbon barrels every year from the United States.And Mr Swinney says he reminded Mr Trump that Scotch whisky is like Kentucky bourbon: "Where Kentucky bourbon can only be produced in Kentucky, Scotch whisky can only be produced in Scotland."So does he think Mr Trump might now exempt Scotch whisky from the current 10% tariff which, according to the Scotch Whisky Association, is costing the industry £4 million a week?"I think President Trump has this on his radar now. I don't think he had it on his radar before he came to Scotland. I think he came to Scotland thinking that the US-UK trade deal was all concluded and that that was it."As well as telling John about his discussions with Mr Trump, Mr Swinney reveals that he gave Mr Trump a framed copy of the handwritten entry in a ledger from the parish of Tong on the Isle of Lewis recording the marriage of the President's great grandparents in 1853, along with "an extract from the 1921 census from Stornoway which includes, of course, for the first time in the census record, his mother, Mary MacLeod, at the age of nine."Aside from telling John about his meeting with Mr Trump, and discussing the significance of whisky to both Scottish identity and the Scottish economy, Mr Swinney, who doesn't drink "an awful lot of alcohol nowadays", admits he does have one or two particular whisky favourites: "I'm very fond of Aberfeldy whisky from my own constituency in North Perthshire. Also, I suppose habitually, I've probably been very fond of Glenmorangie. And that's been very special to me."So tune in for the whole interview.Slàinte!-------Socials:@C2GWhisky@JohnRossBeattie Creator & producer: David HolmesArt work & design: Jess Robertson Music: Water of Life (Never Going Home)Vocals: Andrea CunninghamGuitars: John BeattieBass: Alasdair VannDrums: Alan HamiltonBagpipes: Calum McCollAccordion: Gary InnesMusic & Lyrics: Andrea Cunningham & John BeattieRecorded & mixed by Murray Collier at La Chunky Studios, Glasgow, ScotlandSpecial thanks: The Piper Whisky Bar, 57 Cochrane Street, Glasgow, ScotlandFollow The Piper on Facebook to keep up to date about tastings and other events Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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John Swinney: First Minister of Scotland
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