This week, Mitch sits down with whisky industry veteran Kenny Mackay at Ballindalloch Distillery in Speyside.
Kenny has spent nearly 50 years in Scotch whisky, working with names including Peter Thompson’s, Bowmore, Macallan, Carn Mor, Lindores Abbey and Ballindalloch. In this episode, he shares stories from across his career, from missing out on becoming a helicopter pilot to helping launch Black Bowmore and shaping some of Scotland’s best known whisky brands.
We talk about the early days of malt whisky marketing, growing Macallan in Scotland, the birth of whisky collecting, the changing world of independent bottling, and why Ballindalloch’s slow, estate led approach makes it such a special distillery.
Kenny also gives his take on where the Scotch whisky industry is right now, why downturns are nothing new, and why he still sees plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
Expect brilliant stories, sharp industry insight, a few legendary bottles, and one very committed fire alarm.
00:00 Welcome to Ballindalloch Distillery
01:10 Introducing Kenny Mackay
02:20 The Navy’s loss and whisky’s gain
03:00 Starting out at Peter Thompson’s of Perth
04:20 Glen Grant, Macallan and early whisky distribution
06:20 How the industry has changed over 50 years
09:40 The story behind Black Bowmore
12:00 Bowmore 40 Year Old and early luxury whisky
13:50 Independent bottling then and now
14:30 Building Carn Mor
19:40 One of One and raising millions for charity
23:00 Ballindalloch Distillery and the single estate approach
29:00 Vintage releases and the long term family vision
31:30 Kenny’s take on the current Scotch whisky market
38:00 The cashflow reality of growing a single malt brand
39:10 Quick fire questions
44:20 Desert island drams