One of Scotland’s leading distilleries has appointed a woman as master whisky maker for the first time in its near 200 year history.
Kirsteen Campbell, from Thurso in the Highlands, will lead the newly strengthened team responsible for The Macallan’s single malt whisky.
Ms Campbell, who is renowned throughout the industry for her expertise and knowledge, gained a degree in Food Science in 2001, and later worked in a new make spirits laboratory where she discovered her passion for Scotch whisky and her “extraordinary sense of smell”.
She joined The Macallan’s parent company, Edrington, in 2007 as a whisky quality technologist and most recently held roles for Cutty Sark, Naked Grouse, The Famous Grouse and The Glenrothes.
Ms Campbell has also worked at the Scotch Whisky Research Institute.
She said yesterday: “I feel a real sense of honour and pride to be entrusted as the custodian of The Macallan, charged with leading the Whisky Mastery Team in the creation of The Macallan’s single malt whiskies.
“Having been a part of the wider Edrington whisky making team for over a decade, I’m really looking forward to working more closely with the team.”
The six-strong team will also include, for the first time, a Master of Wood, to reflect “the complete whisky making process and the vital influence of wood on the character of The Macallan whisky”.
Ms Campbell’s appointment follows a landmark year for the brand in 2018, which saw the opening of its new £140 million distillery and visitor experience on its Speyside estate, increasing investment in whisky, warehousing and signature sherry-seasoned oak casks.
Managing director Igor Boyadjian said: “The appointment of Kirsteen and investment in the future legacy of The Macallan comes at an incredibly exciting time.
“In the wake of the first anniversary of the new distillery, The Macallan is experiencing continued global growth and success, enjoying growing demand in new markets.”