Company:
Tamdhu / Ian Macleod Distillers
Job:
Malt Master
Website:
ianmacleod.com
How long have you been working in the
whisky industry?
I have
been working for Ian Macleod Distillers for over six years now, starting as a
blending assistant. Before that I worked
at the Scotch Whisky Experience, which was a good place to learn about the
flavours, history and politics of the industry.
What has been your biggest career highlight
to date?
There
have been some great moments; working on the new Glengoyne range and helping re-launch
Tamdhu Speyside single malt Scotch whisky are really up there. My fondest memory is still quite early on in
my career, when I was sitting three casks high in the dunnage warehouse of
Glengoyne, looking out with a valinch and a case of bottles, realising I could
taste any cask I needed to. It was a very surreal and joyful moment.
Can you remember your first dram, and
indeed what it was?
I had whisky
and Irn Bru in my youth, but I don’t count that! My first memorable experience of Scotch was
in Ireland and I was given a Johnnie Walker Black to contrast with an Irish
whiskey to see how much better Irish was than Scotch. It had the opposite
effect and I started to drink a lot more Scotch. My first memorable single malt
was Laphroaig 10 Year Old. I was given a bottle and hated it. Being a student
though I kept drinking it and by half way through I was smitten!
What does whisky mean to you?
Whisky
is a great way to explore the senses and emotions. From simple ingredients such
depth of flavour are created and it is easy to get lost nosing a whisky,
letting the imagination run wild. I love
to share the experience of a new whisky with friends, where you can talk, relax
and learn all at the same time.
Where would you like to see yourself in
five years time?
I
really enjoy working for Ian Macleod Distillers, they are a small family owned
company and every day is different. I would be very happy to still be working
for them and see some of the plans we are currently working on come into
fruition.
What was your last dram?
The
last dram I had was the Tamdhu 10 Year Old. It’s matured in only the finest oak
sherry casks with natural Speyside water. I have recently come back from the
Tamdhu re-launch event in Speyside and really enjoyed sharing our new dram with
everyone who came along.
Do you have a favourite whisky and food
pairing combination?
I am a
bit of a purist and like to give whisky my full attention, so I tend not to
drink whisky during a meal. I like whisky before, a Glengoyne 10 Year Old for example,
and after maybe a Smokehead, but I don’t get the full appreciation of the subtleties
if I drink it with food.
What’s your favourite time and place to
enjoy a dram?
Definitely
in the evening, in my living room, after a hard day and sometimes with a guitar
in hand. It’s very comforting and a reminder that life is good!
What do you think is going to be the
next big thing on the whisky horizon?
I
think we are going to see more and more companies bottling single malt at
natural colour. We have always bottled
Glengoyne and will bottle Tamdhu at natural colour, because we feel if you have
a quality single malt you should be proud of its colour. It’s better for the consumer as they have a clearer
idea of what to expect in flavour terms by looking at the whisky.
What’s the one dram you couldn’t live
without?
There
are a lot of whiskies that bring a smile to my face; good bourbon, sherry and
peat influence all have their place and would be missed. Glengoyne 10 Year Old and Isle of Skye 8 Year
Old are my most common drams at home, but I think the Glengoyne 15 Year Old
would be the one I choose. Well rounded
and complex, it commonly fits into my mood.