A man in a blue sweater smells a glass of whisky. Behind him are several barrels labeled "Glen Scotia 2015 Ex Bourbon Cask 2197," stacked against a dark stone wall. The setting appears to be a distillery.
A person in a navy sweater smells a glass of whiskey while standing in a dimly lit room. There are wooden barrels with "Glen Scotia" written on them in the background. A bottle, a small container, and a wooden barrel top are visible in the foreground.

Distillery Manager / Master Distiller


Former engineer Iain McAlister has been our esteemed distillery manager for twelve years. Born and bred in Campbeltown, Iain is fiercely proud of the place, its people and its rich whisky heritage.

Iain is responsible for the smooth running of the distillery. He also keeps a close eye on the distillery’s stock, sampling different years, casks and finishes to maintain the highest standards of quality control.

Drawing on his background as an engineer, Iain has developed and enhanced production at Glen Scotia, whilst making sure to preserve the craftsmanship and traditional skills we value. After all, it’s these that continue to influence and shape Glen Scotia’s distinctive house style.

Iain’s favourite dram is the award-winning Glen Scotia Double Cask – which he especially enjoys on a Friday night, when winding down after a busy week.

A person in a blue sweater holds a glass of whiskey up to the light, examining its color. Several whiskey barrels are stacked in the background, each marked and labeled. The setting appears to be a dimly lit storage or aging area for the whiskey.
A person in a blue sweater holds a glass of whiskey up to the light, examining its color. Several whiskey barrels are stacked in the background, each marked and labeled. The setting appears to be a dimly lit storage or aging area for the whiskey.

Drawing on his background as an engineer, Iain has developed and enhanced production at Glen Scotia, whilst making sure to preserve the craftsmanship and traditional skills we value. After all, it’s these that continue to influence and shape Glen Scotia’s distinctive house style.

Iain’s favourite dram is the award-winning Glen Scotia Double Cask – which he especially enjoys on a Friday night, when winding down after a busy week.

A man in a blue sweater is using a pipette to draw liquid from a large wooden barrel labeled "2016 Ex Bourbon Cask 2194" and "Glen Scotia Campbellton." He is holding a glass to collect the liquid in a rustic, stone-walled environment.

“Glen Scotia distillery has played a huge part in my recent life. And as someone who is proud to have been born and bred in Campbeltown, the history of both the town and its whisky heritage continues to influence me. It ensures that I, along with the team, am focused on producing only the finest quality whisky, whilst giving all our visitors and guests a trip to remember – after all, it is the whiskiest place I know!”

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