<strong>Stephanie Macleod is promoted by Bacardi</strong>

Bacardi has promoted Stephanie Macleod, who was the Master Blender for its portfolio of Scotch whiskies, to a newly created role as Director of Blending, Scotch Whisky – a promotion that recognises her talent and 25 years’ experience in crafting Scotch whisky.

A highly respected figure in the whisky industry, in her new role Stephanie will continue to lead the famed blending legacy of DEWAR’S blended Scotch whisky, William Lawson’s Scotch whisky, and the five single malts – Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie, The Deveron and Royal Brackla as Malt Master.

Her expanded remit will also see her develop the people and processes needed to continue the premiumisation of the range and help deliver on the family-owned spirits company’s ambition to be industry leaders in innovation and quality.

Stephanie began her career in whisky as a Sensory Analyst at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, where she worked on a project which attempted to unlock the maturation secrets of Scotch whisky. Joining Bacardi, based in Glasgow in 1998, Stephanie went on to become the first female Master Blender for DEWAR’S in 2006, following her official three-year training with the then Master Blender. She is the seventh Master Blender in DEWAR’S 176-year history.

At the 2022 International Whisky Competition, Stephanie was crowned ‘Master Blender of the Year’ for an unprecedented fourth year in a row.