50 YEARS OF WHISKY WITH KENNY MACKAY

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.

Timestamps00:00 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