“It is with regret that we pass on the news that John Black, a true Master Distiller within the Scotch Whisky Industry, passed away on Wednesday 18th September, 2013.

Born in 1942, John started his working life at Cardow (now Cardhu) distillery in 1958 and literally devoted the rest of his 55 years of life to the Industry and the making of Scotch whisky. John’s legacy lives on through the whisky he distilled at Glenburgie, Milton Duff, Ardbeg, Glencadam, Balblair, Pultney, Auchentoshan, Tormore, Ardmore, Scapa and last but not least Tullibardine.

John was as passionate about people as he was about distilling whisky and always had time for anyone who visited or called in for a chat. For those of us fortunate enough to have undertaken a tour of the distillery, or to have been guided through the history and process under his passionate tutelage we are eternally grateful. He had a story for every occasion & the saddest thing is that we probably never made the most of our time with him.

John Black, a friend, colleague, mentor and Master Distiller left his legacy in the whiskies he distilled and memories and thoughts instilled in the people he met.”

James Robertson, Tullibardine Distillery