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Balblair
Distillery bids farewell to its veteran
Distillery Manager, John MacDonald, as
he enters retirement, ushering in a new
era where David Rogerson, previously
Assistant Distillery Manager at
Speyburn, steps up to assume leadership.
After devoting 18 years of service, John
MacDonald, esteemed and respected among
whisky aficionados, has bid farewell to
Balblair Distillery, marking his
retirement from the industry. His final
shift on May 3rd, nearly 35 years since
his entrance into the whisky realm, was
met with heartfelt tributes from
colleagues, recognising his pivotal role
in steering Balblair to global success
since assuming leadership in August
2006.
Throughout his tenure, John's unwavering
integrity, expertise, profound
knowledge, and vibrant personality
earned him a distinguished reputation as
one of whisky's foremost advocates. His
departure leaves a void felt not only at
Balblair and International Beverage but
across the broader whisky community.
John embarked on his journey in the
whisky world as a warehouseman at
Glenmorangie Distillery, steadily
ascending over 17 years to the position
of Assistant Distillery Manager. His
decision to take the helm at Balblair
was driven by his deep admiration for
the whisky produced at the Edderton site
in Tain.
Among John's notable achievements at
Balblair is the cultivation of a
cohesive and amiable distillery team,
the establishment of an acclaimed
visitor experience, and leadership in
sustainability efforts, including
transitioning away from heavy fuels and
implementing TVR (thermal vapour
recompression) technology for enhanced
energy efficiency.
Furthermore, John's reputation as a
sought-after global whisky brand
ambassador is well-deserved, underpinned
by his unwavering commitment to
crafting, savouring, and sharing
exceptional drams.
An esteemed Keeper of the Quaich, John's
character and dedication were poignantly
portrayed in the 2022 film "Precious
Time" by David Eustace, which delved
into the meticulous craftsmanship behind
Balblair whisky and the enchanting
allure of its Highland home.
International Beverage has announced
David Rogerson as John's successor,
transitioning from his role as Assistant
Distillery Manager at Speyburn to assume
the mantle of Balblair Distillery
Manager. Hailing from Dumfries, David's
early exposure to Islay ignited his
passion for whisky-making, culminating
in a first-class honours degree in
Brewing and Distilling before embarking
on a journey that led him to Speyburn
Distillery, where he rapidly
distinguished himself as a valued member
of the International Beverage team.
Commenting on today’s announcement, John
said: "My time as Distillery Manager at
Balblair has been a huge honour and a
job that I have thoroughly enjoyed over
the years. Balblair is an exceptional
single malt whisky that I've been so
proud to craft and represent over the
years, following in the footsteps of a
long line of makers going back to 1790.
I want to say a huge thank you to the
distillery team, past and present, for
their craftsmanship, dedication and
friendship, with a particular mention to
Assistant Manager Norman Laing, who is
the best in the business and whose help
has been invaluable. I also want to
offer a warm welcome to David, and to
wish him the very best of luck in the
role. I've had the pleasure of working
alongside him in the past few months and
I know that Balblair is in very good
hands for future generations."
International Beverage Managing Director
Malcolm Leask added: "In John, we
couldn’t have asked for a better
custodian of our wonderful Balblair
single malt Scotch whisky. He has given
us his best for nearly two decades and
leaves our whisky and distillery in a
stronger place for the future. We thank
you John for your exceptional service.
It’s good to know that your skill and
craftsmanship will be present in every
bottle of Balblair for many years to
come.
"We also offer a very warm welcome today
to David as he joins the Balblair team.
These are very big shoes to fill, but
David has proven himself to be a highly
skilled whisky maker and will build on
John’s legacy to take Balblair into an
exciting next chapter".
You will find the current
Balblair whisky range available from specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
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