- Meet the Maker
Meet The Maker: Iain McAlister of Glen Scotia
You never really know what you want to do with your life until you’re doing it, right? For Iain McAlister, a water engineer from the tiny Scottish town of Campbeltown, a career in whisky was never on the cards.
“You need to keep an open mind and expect the unexpected,” he reflects. “In 2008, an opportunity arose, and I joined the Glen Scotia team as Master Distiller and Distillery Manager.” A background in water engineering mightn’t seem like the most likely prerequisite for a gig at a whisky distillery, but what McAlister lacked in experience, he more than made up for in local knowledge.
“Being a local, and a big whisky fan in general, I’ve always known of Glen Scotia,” he says. When he accepted the role of Distillery Manager 17 years ago, it was his intimate understanding of Glen Scotia’s locale that held him in good stead. “A mixture of knowledge and capabilities are vital in my role, as is a passion for the history of whisky and your region.” With a population of around 4500, Campbeltown was once an important centre of Scotch whisky boasting 34 distilleries, though today just three remain. The town’s buzz may have petered over the years, but thanks to distilleries like Glen Scotia — dedicated to preserving the Scotch whisky-making tradition — Campbeltown is reclaiming its rightful place on the whisky map.
In his role as Glen Scotia’s Master Distiller and Distillery Manager, McAlister’s role spans everything from operations to production to customer service. “My days are wide and varied, just the way I like it,” he says. “I could be undertaking paperwork, tours and tastings, visits by directors or investors, or be involved in cask selections, engineering design and repairs.” Of his close to two decades’ experience, no two days are alike. “I enjoy everything I do! The people, the product, the opportunity to promote my hometown — I count myself very lucky.”
Taking its cues from the rugged peninsula in which it’s made, Glen Scotia’s whiskies retain a salty, subtle maritime nature reminiscent of the Atlantic Sea breeze, cut through with tropical fruit aspects and an oily mouthfeel. “It’s wonderfully distinctive and quite unlike any other Scotch-making region,” McAlister explains. The distillery’s Harbour Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the perfect example: notes of gentle smoke and sea salt collide with smoothing soft peach and vanilla custard for a delightful yet subtle entry into the world of whisky. If something more robust is your drop of choice, Glen Scotia’s 15YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky, with its hints of vanilla oak and spicy aromatic fruit, ought to be right up your alley. As for McAlister’s pick, it’s like choosing a favourite child. “If I had to pick a standout, I love any solely matured bourbon whisky from Glen Scotia, I think the distillery character shines through and is incredible whisky, but I would say that wouldn’t I?”
You can shop Glen Scotia’s Harbour Single Malt Scotch Whisky and 15YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky exclusively at Vintage Cellars.
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