Is Iain McAlister Leaving Glen Scotia This Month?

It seems as though a significant shift looms at Glen Scotia Distillery in Campbeltown. Iain McAlister, the master distiller at the distillery, is reportedly packing up and moving east later this month.

According to a reliable journalist from Germany, Glen Scotia Distillery will soon be continuing without a master distiller. Iain McAlister, the current master distiller, is reportedly leaving for China.

The message was posted on the Facebook account of Shelley McAlister, McAlister's wife, who announced “big news.”

The text reads as follows:

Unfortunately, we were unable to view Shelley McAlister's message. Furthermore, the distillery in Campbeltown has not yet announced McAlister's departure. McAlister himself has not posted anything on his Facebook or other social media accounts either.

Until this happens, the announcement of McAlister's departure remains a rumor.

Iain McAlister has been working at Glen Scotia Distillery for over 18 years. We spoke to the distillery manager during our visit to Campbeltown. In our extended interview, he talked about his first thoughts when he started at the distillery and how he fulfills his role with great passion. He said the following:

In the interview McAlister points out that he lives for whisky. Whether he will be in the whisky industry again if he moves to China is unclear at the moment.

If McAlister does leave this month, he will hand over the reins to a new master distiller. It is not clear who this will be when that time comes. It could be Ashley Smith or Michael Henry, for example. Both are currently master blenders at Loch Lomond Group.