Pioneering Whisky Maker Gregg Glass Named
Master Distiller of the Year
Whyte and Mackay is celebrating after master whisky maker Gregg Glass was awarded Master Distiller of the Year at the Icons of Whisky Scotland Awards 2023. The whisky house, which is proud to count The Dalmore, Jura, Fettercairn and Tamnavulin in its portfolio, was also Highly Commended within the Icons’ ultimate Distiller of the Year* category.
Having joined Whyte and Mackay in 2016, Glass has made a huge impact and is renowned for his innovative and hands-on approach to whisky making. Involved in every aspect of the process – even from acorn to glass through Whyte and Mackay’s innovative Scottish Oak Programme – Glass is credited with the rejuvenation of the Jura and Fettercairn distilleries and in 2017 launched Whisky Works, the brand’s independent innovation wing.
Since joining the house, his passion project has been the development of the industry-leading Scottish Oak Programme, which aims to help establish the use of native oak as a quality raw material for the wider spirits industry, starting with Scotch.
This year, Fettercairn released the first whisky from the Scottish Oak Programme, an 18 Year Old finished in locally-sourced Scottish oak, which marked an important milestone for Glass. The distillery is also the site for Fettercairn Forest; a replanting of an ancient forest which forms part of the commitment to develop a sustainable future for responsibly sourced Scottish oak
Prior to Whyte and Mackay, Gregg Glass established his reputation as a pioneer at Compass Box. Joining the fifth largest whisky producer – Whyte and Mackay – in 2016, Gregg Glass has since led whisky making innovation across the portfolio which includes Woodsman, Whyte and Mackay Light and Whisky Works.
Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass comments:
“We feel incredibly honoured to have been recognised by Icons of Whisky and to be Whisky Maker of the Year ’23 is a real honour. This is testament to the hard work of so many across the Whyte and Mackay team and our commitment to continue to innovate and create fantastic whiskies.
“Our collection of Single Malt Distilleries is really very special and I see every day as an opportunity to try something new and explore the diversity of flavour we can create as whisky makers. To be recognised in this way by my peers is truly humbling.”
Whyte and Mackay’s Invergordon Grain Whisky also received the top award in the Grain Whisky category, while Whyte and Mackay’s Kieran Healey-Ryder, was Highly Commended as Scotch Whisky Ambassador
Award-Winning Whisky Makers Whyte and Mackay
Whyte and Mackay is home to a collection of multi-award-winning Single Malt Whiskies including The Dalmore, Jura and Fettercairn. With a premium spirits portfolio that includes contemporary whisky brands Shackleton, Woodsman and John Barr, alongside popular alcohol brands Wildcat, Fundador and Harveys Bristol Cream and Aperitivo. In the UK the company produce Whyte and Mackay, an award-winning ever-popular Blended Whisky, which recently launched the market-leading ‘Whyte and Mackay Light’ – a lighter spirit drink from Scotland, bottled at a lower ABV.
In 2020 the company were publicly recognised by the First Minister of Scotland for their support of the national pandemic response. Whyte and Mackay are official partners to SAMH – Scottish Association for Mental Health, which saw Whyte and Mackay employees worldwide complete a virtual-race-around-the-world to raise awareness for the charity.
Founded in Glasgow 1844, the whisky makers celebrated their 175 year anniversary in 2019. Today Whyte and Mackay have offices from New York to Singapore. In Scotland, Whyte and Mackay operate a state-of-the-art Bottling Hall and Distribution Centre in Grangemouth and a Whisky Production and Warehousing Centre in Invergordon.
Whyte and Mackay’s whisky making is led by Master Distiller Richard Paterson OBE and pioneering Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass.
*Icons of Whisky: Scotland
After 17 years in the PX cask, the influence on flavor is irrefutable. Dates, figs, dried vine fruit, mixed peel, and rich sherry notes on the nose followed by black cherry, prune juice, licorice, and baking spices. A surprisingly sweet palate begins with cherry chocolate and raspberry backed by peppercorn and clove, with a syrupy mid- palate of stewed rhubarb and plum and a greater oak presence as the sweetness fades. (500 bottles) —Vol. 31, #2 
