A conversation with David Thomas

With Christmas on the horizon, we had a chat with David Thomas, 2021 Welsh Learner of the Year, and co-owner of ‘Jin Talog’ gin distillery.

Why did you want to learn Welsh?

I grew up in a non-Welsh speaking family in Cardiff. I remember going to the Cwm Rhymni Eisteddfod in 1990 with a group of friends (none of us spoke Welsh at the time) and feeling the buzz that was on the maes (field). I was at university in England at the time. I lived and worked in London for years afterwards. In 2016, I moved back to Wales and learned the language. Since learning Welsh, I have made so many new friends and connections in my local area in Carmarthenshire. I've been so lucky to have moved to such a close-knit community where the language thrives. I love using the Welsh language every day, in the business, but also in the community. It means so much to me as a new speaker.

What difference has learning Welsh made to the business?

There’s no doubt that learning Welsh has been key to Jin Talog’s success. When we established the distillery, we were determined to create a bilingual business that prioritises the Welsh language – the best decision we have ever made! For businesses in Wales, using the Welsh language pays dividends. Our customers appreciate that they can buy the gin on our website through the medium of Welsh. As a result, we have attracted many new customers, as well as opportunities to promote Jin Talog on Welsh-language media.

Is Christmas a busy time for you?

Yes! We sell a lot of our produce in the weeks before Christmas – to hotels and restaurants across Wales, and to customers online. As a result, we’re very busy distilling gin, and wrapping bottles. We post across the UK, and abroad too. Thankfully, January is always a quiet time for us, so we always have a little break after Christmas.