Our People
Rachel Barrie
Master Blender
Our Master Blender Rachel Barrie has long held an affinity for The GlenDronach, having grown up not far from the distillery and introduced to our Single Malts as her Dad’s favourite dram. Rachel is a true master of her craft. Her many years of experience and expertise are brought to bear in our highly awarded Single Malts. Since joining the distillery team, Rachel has been recognised for her contributions to the Scotch Whisky industry; with an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Aberdeen, inducted as a Keeper of the Quaich and welcomed into Whisky Magazine’s illustrious ‘Hall of Fame’.
James Allardice
Founder of The GlenDronach Distillery
James Allardice was our visionary founder and the original pioneer of The GlenDronach’s exceptional sherry cask maturation. Having inherited the Boynsmill estate in 1800, Allardice had an abundance of means, methods and mastery to make his distillery vision a reality in 1826. He named The GlenDronach after the ‘Dronac Burn’ that flows through the Boynsmill estate, meaning ‘Valley of the Brambles’ in Scots Gaelic. He was a resourceful character, passionately sharing his ‘guid GlenDronach’ with the local community and on regular trips to Edinburgh. He wasted no time acquiring fresh yeast from his nephew Robert Davidson – who was an inventive chemist – and high-quality barley from local farmers Robert Stuart and John R Thain. To this day, we take great pride in honouring the legacy laid down by James Allardice; an early innovator of sherry cask maturation, and a most enterprising, charismatic and skilled whisky maker.
Stewart Buchanan
Global Brand Ambassador
Former Benriach distillery manager Stewart Buchanan is now our well-travelled Global Brand Ambassador for The GlenDronach. He is a highly experienced and passionate whisky expert, whom we rely upon to spread the word of our award-winning Single Malts amongst connoisseurs around the world – just as James Allardice once did across Scotland. Stewart is the Brand Ambassador for The GlenDronach, and also the Benriach and Glenglassaugh distilleries.
Ewen George
Warehouse Manager
Ewen is a local man, living all his life just a short journey from The GlenDronach Distillery. His job as keeper of our precious Spanish oak sherry casks, stored in our traditional dunnage warehouses, is central to maintaining our time-honoured processes and the finesse of our spirit. Some of the casks Ewen and his team look after date back to 1968. Every day, they watch carefully over our warehouses, ensuring depth of character and rich colour is imparted from exceptional quality casks. Ewan is the Warehouse Manager for The GlenDronach, and also the Benriach and Glenglassaugh distilleries.
