Iain McAlister unveils a new Chinese Whisky Matured in an Uncommon Wood

Earlier this year it was announced that Iain McAlister had said goodbye to Glen Scotia in Campbeltown. For years he was the face of the distillery, but a little while ago he left for China with his wife. It’s now clear what he’ll be doing there: he has taken on the role of Master Distiller / Group Whisky Operations Director at The Langjiu Group.

McAlister has left Campbeltown, Scotland for a fresh start in China. He once helped bring Glen Scotia back to life and made it a fixture in the whisky world. It looks like he’s set to do something similar in China for The Langjiu Group.

The Langjiu Group is based in China’s Sichuan province and is one of the major names in the country’s drinks industry. The company is best known for the traditional Chinese spirit baijiu. But with Iain McAlister’s arrival and title, Langjiu is signaling that whisky is in the works.

McAlister has stepped in as the company’s Master Distiller/Group Whisky Operations Director. It’s a smart strategic move by Langjiu, bringing in someone with decades of whisky experience.

The former Glen Scotia Master Distiller brings not only deep expertise, but an unwavering passion for the water of life. In an interview with Whisky Monkeys, he admitted he’s a bit obsessive when it comes to whisky.

That obsessive streak shows in his recent Facebook post. It shows McAlister visiting a local cooperage to examine Mongolian oak. The Master Distiller wants to explore how this wood influences the flavor profile of the Chinese spirit.

What exactly this will lead to, and when the first Langjiu whisky will see the light of day, remains unknown. But one thing is clear: Iain McAlister’s next move isn’t a detour; it’s the start of a brand-new whisky venture.