We sit down with Ron Welsh, Master Blender at Beam Suntory, the owners of five of Scotland’s most iconic distilleries. Laphroaig and Bowmore on Islay are probably the best known along with Auchentoshan on the outskirts of Glasgow. But it is in the North East of Scotland, in rural Aberdeenshire that our focus lies, at the lesser known Glengarioch and Ardmore distilleries.

Educated at Strathclyde University after schooling at Eastwood High, Ron’s career started in steel before taking a turn into the Whisky Industry almost by chance. Amongst his favourite creations are the Laphroaig 18 year old and this year’s Handfill at the Glengarioch distillery, opened on the 1st January 2020, thought to be the only cask in Scotland opened on the first day of the new decade.

Ron is renowned for his quality whiskies, and also his enthusiasm for his brands. Often seen at Distillery events backing his own products, he is one of the more ‘hands on’ Master Blenders. While thousands revere his whisky, Ron is a most modest man. Indeed, standing next to him in the Glengarioch warehouse opening the first cask of the decade, his wife asked him how he knew so much about the cask and it’s contents. “What do you think I do for a job?!” Was his reply. It seems not all are so keen to take an interest in his new releases! Always humble and honest, Ron tells us of his beginnings in the whisky world.