The Barrel Inspectors At William Grant & Sons Whisky Have Four Feet (Did You Know?)

Tuesday, 29 July 2025 at 15:01Grants Whisky

Rocco de cockerspaniel die whisky vaten inspecteert bij William Grant & Sons

In the world of whisky, cats are a common sight. But did you know that dogs also work in distilleries? At William Grant & Sons, two unique employees inspect the barrels: dogs.

FAQ

Who was the first dog to inspect barrels?
The first dog to begin work as a barrel inspector was Rocco, a cocker spaniel.
How do dogs track leaking whisky barrels?
Dogs have a nose that is 40 times stronger than that of a human. With this, they can sniff out anomalies in the wood and detect leaks.
Which distillery do the dogs work at?
The dogs inspecting the barrels work at the Girvan Distillery and other distilleries of William Grant & sons.

A special barrel inspector at William Grant & Sons

Scottish whisky maker William Grant & Sons had a first in 2021. While cats had already officially been on the payroll at distilleries, this year saw a dog officially join their ranks.

Of course, dogs could already be found at distilleries, but they weren't really working yet. Rocco was the first dog to be employed by a whisky maker. His job was to inspect barrels at the cooperage and warehouses of the Girvan distillery.

Why a dog as a barrel inspector?

The nose of a dog is up to 40 times stronger than that of a human. Where a barrel may seem good enough for the human eye (and nose), a dog can spot the smallest imperfections and thus detect leaking barrels.

Rocco had an exceptionally good nose for whisky, but unfortunately worked only briefly for the whisky maker. He passed away in 2022 following an emergency surgery. His work, however, has been continued by two other cocker spaniels, Kevin and Toby.

These dogs now work at the various distilleries and warehouses of William Grant & Sons. So, if you ever find yourself near a distillery and see two brown cocker spaniels roaming around, those might just be dogs on the job.

Fun fact: The most famous cat in a distillery is Towser the Mouser. He caught thousands of mice and even holds a world record.

Discover more facts about whisky and distilleries on the Did you Know-page.