Whisky Maker- The Macallan

Scotch Whisky; Aberlour; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

37 days holiday

Pension contributions

Share Reward scheme

Private medical insurance

Wellbeing support

Product allowance & staff discount

Parental leave

Job summary

The Macallan Estate is seeking a Whisky Maker to craft vattings and releases with expert whisky production and sensory insight. You will lead quality and innovation efforts, assess maturing stocks, and support stock planning decisions.

You will mentor junior team members and collaborate with Brand Creative, Education and Product Development to drive technical excellence and future concepts. VIP visits and stakeholder engagement are part of the role.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in spirits industry, ideally whisky making, blending, or sensory assessment.
• Advanced nosing and tasting skills; ability to analyse and communicate technical and sensory data.
• Experience supporting innovation and new product development, plus stock planning decisions.

Responsibilities

• Create whisky vattings and releases that meet quality, colour, age and sensory specs.
• Assess and approve marrying samples, tankers and production batches within defined authority levels.
• Evaluate maturing stocks and provide recommendations on stock grading and utilisation strategies.
• Conduct sensory assessment of new make spirit and maturing whisky stocks for quality and stock planning.
• Contribute to innovation, liquid trials, sensory descriptions, and technical recommendations.
• Support development of future whisky concepts and sustainable innovation initiatives.
• Provide technical whisky expertise to internal stakeholders including Brand Creative and Product Development.
• Support VIP/trade and media visits to The Macallan Estate with senior team members.
• Coach and support Assistant Whisky Makers and Trainees, building future capability.

Skills

Sensory evaluation

Nosing & tasting

Stock management

Quality improvement

Communication

Coaching/mentoring

Stakeholder management

Technical whisky knowledge

Education

Science/spirits qualification

Job description

The Whisky Maker is responsible for creating whisky vatting's and releases to specification, ensuring the highest standards of quality and consistency. The role assesses maturing stocks, supports stock planning decisions, leads selected quality and innovation projects, and contributes to new product development. As a key member of the New Make Spirit sensory panel, the Whisky Maker provides specialist whisky expertise to internal stakeholders while supporting brand and business initiatives. Strong technical knowledge of whisky production, maturation, stock management, and sensory evaluation is essential.

• Create and deliver whisky vattings and releases that meet agreed quality, colour, age, and sensory specifications.
• Assess and approve marrying samples, tankers, and production batches within defined authority levels.
• Evaluate maturing stocks and provide recommendations on stock grading, utilisation, and reservation strategies.
• Conduct sensory assessment of new make spirit and maturing whisky stocks to support quality and stock planning decisions.
• Contribute to innovation, research, and new product development projects, including liquid trials, sensory descriptions, and technical recommendations.
• Support the development of future whisky concepts and sustainable innovation initiatives.
• Provide technical whisky expertise to internal stakeholders, including Brand Creative, Education, and Product Development teams.
• Support VIP, trade and media visits to The Macallan Estate as appropriate with more senior team members.

• Act as a whisky ambassador when representing the Whisky Mastery Team.
• Coach and support Assistant Whisky Makers, Trainee Whisky Makers and Sample Room Assistants, sharing knowledge and helping build future capability within the team.
• Contribute to discussions on long-term stock sustainability, portfolio development, and quality improvement opportunities.

To be successful in this position, you will have significant experience within the spirits industry, ideally in whisky making, blending, liquid quality, or sensory assessment, supported by a relevant scientific, technical, or spirits-related qualification or equivalent experience. You will possess advanced nosing and tasting skills, a strong understanding of the whisky production process from new make spirit through maturation to bottling, and the ability to analyse and communicate technical and sensory data effectively. You will also have experience supporting innovation and new product development, managing multiple priorities, and building strong relationships with stakeholders. A quality-focused, detail-oriented approach, combined with strong communication, presentation, and coaching skills, will be key to success in this role.

We’ve put together some criteria that we think is important for this role, but don’t worry if your experience and expertise isn’t an exact match. If you feel that you can add value to our role and to Edrington more broadly, we would welcome your application and be eager to learn more about you.

Benefits:

• 37 days holiday, plus 4 Giving More volunteer days
• Save for retirement and invest in your future - pension contributions (employee up to 8.75%, employer up to 14%)
• Share in our success with up to 10% Share Reward scheme (subject to eligibility)
• Private medical insurance that covers the cost of private healthcare and includes round the clock access to GP services and menopause health line
• 24/7 support for you and your loved ones to counselling, life coaching and information on financial, mental, and physical wellbeing
• Experience our exceptional brands with a generous annual product allowance, plus at least 20% discount in our staff shop
• Embrace work-life harmony with 26 weeks’ paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and up to five paid carers leave days a year