Stephanie MacLeod, Dewar's

STEPHANIE MACLEOD

MASTER BLENDER FOR DEWAR’S

With a degree in food science and a background in sensory analysis, Stephanie MacLeod applies deep passion and know-how to crafting John Dewar’s & Sons much-loved blends and single malts

Her love of whisky wasn’t always so fervent, with her admitting to once possessing a clear preference for other drinks in her early 20s. It wasn’t until she studied whisky as a research assistant in sensory analysis for her alma mater, the University of Strathclyde, that she developed a real appreciation for the spirit. In investigating the influence of the maturation process on a whisky, she became fascinated with the diverse range of whiskies three simple elements – water, malt or grain and wood casks – can produce.

In 1998, she joined Dewar’s in the spirit qaulity Laboratories in Glasgow’s head office, a division she eventually came to run before becoming Blender Designate in 2003 under the tutelage of then Master Blender, Tom Aiken.

Since assuming the role of Dewar’s seventh Master Blender in 2006, Stephanie has drawn on her science knowledge to apply sensory methods when nosing and tasting the whisky. This requires the use of controlled conditions to evaluate a blend and utilising statistical techniques to ensure partiality towards a particular blend is valid.

The first blend she ever created was Dewar’s 15-Year-Old, and she has continued in the spirit of innovation through experimentation ever since. In 2014, she was instrumental in the expansion of Dewar’s by launching the ‘Last Great Malts’ series – the never-beforereleased highlights of the single malt portfolio. Subsequently, she became Dewar’s Malt Master in addition to Master Blender, as she oversees every step of the production process for each of the single malts from the five malt distilleries – Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie, The Deveron and Royal Brackla.

Stephanie is an advocate for women entering the spirits industry and a regular speaker regarding this issue. Most recently, she spoke at the first Women of the Vine & Spirits International Summit in London and was this year awarded Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky Master Blender of the Year.

When home alone, with a dram in hand, she’s versatile on how she takes her whisky. For Dewar’s White Label and Dewar’s 12-Year-Old, she likes to mix together ginger ale, a wedge of lime and ice; with Dewar’s 25, she prefers to take it neat or sometimes with a block of ice; and with the malts, she thinks they’re best neat or with a splash of water.

Born in Glasgow, Stephanie now lives two hours from the Aberfeldy distillery with her twin girls, Emma and Rachel, and her husband, Niall. In her spare time, she is a tennis and running enthusiast.