Stephanie Macleod, Master Blender for Bacardi's portfolio of Scotch whiskies, has been promoted to a newly created role as Director of Blending, Scotch Whisky, recognizing her talent and 25 years of experience in crafting Scotch whisky. Stephanie became DEWAR'S first female Master Blender in 2006, after completing a three-year apprenticeship with the then-Master Blender.
She is passionate about developing the next generation of talent within Bacardi and the whisky industry, and she continues to pave the way for women in leadership through her commitment to creating opportunities for women.
Stephanie, a multi-award winning and well-respected figure in the whisky industry, will continue to lead the 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 responsibilities will also include developing the people and processes required to continue the premiumization of the range and to help the family-owned spirits company achieve its ambition to be industry leaders in innovation and quality.
“It’s an exciting time for Scotch whisky right now as demand grows around the world for top quality, beautifully crafted blends and malts,” comments Stephanie Macleod, Director of Blending, Scotch Whisky, Bacardi. “In my new role, I’ll be ensuring we are able to meet this increasing demand – both now and for many decades to come – while continuing to deliver new, exciting and curated Scotch whiskies, spanning our Blended and Single Malt portfolios.”
Stephanie was named 'Master Blender of the Year' for the fourth year in a row at the 2022 International Whisky Competition, recognizing her world-class expertise in the art of blending. She is only the seventh Master Blender in the 176-year history of DEWAR.
She began her career in whisky as a Sensory Analyst at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, working on a project that attempted to unlock the maturation secrets of Scotch whisky.
“The consistent quality and flavor of every drop of our Scotch whiskies is thanks to Stephanie and her team,” comments Dave Ingram, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Bacardi. “As Director of Blending, she will bring her mastery of the entire whisky-making process – from barley to bottle – to play a pivotal role in delivering our bold growth ambitions for Scotch whisky.”
Every day, she leads a team of Blenders and Assistant Blenders who benefit from her wealth of knowledge and expertise.
Stephanie will continue to share her story and her love of whisky in order to inspire others around the world to nose, taste, and enjoy a sensory experience unlike any other.
Supporting women in leadership is one of the key pillars of Bacardi's Belonging program, which focuses on developing programming, development opportunities, and other resources for underrepresented groups in the spirits industry. Bacardi's efforts were recently recognised by Forbes as one of the World's Top Female Friendly Companies.
She is passionate about developing the next generation of talent within Bacardi and the whisky industry, and she continues to pave the way for women in leadership through her commitment to creating opportunities for women.
Stephanie, a multi-award winning and well-respected figure in the whisky industry, will continue to lead the 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 responsibilities will also include developing the people and processes required to continue the premiumization of the range and to help the family-owned spirits company achieve its ambition to be industry leaders in innovation and quality.
“It’s an exciting time for Scotch whisky right now as demand grows around the world for top quality, beautifully crafted blends and malts,” comments Stephanie Macleod, Director of Blending, Scotch Whisky, Bacardi. “In my new role, I’ll be ensuring we are able to meet this increasing demand – both now and for many decades to come – while continuing to deliver new, exciting and curated Scotch whiskies, spanning our Blended and Single Malt portfolios.”
Stephanie was named 'Master Blender of the Year' for the fourth year in a row at the 2022 International Whisky Competition, recognizing her world-class expertise in the art of blending. She is only the seventh Master Blender in the 176-year history of DEWAR.
She began her career in whisky as a Sensory Analyst at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, working on a project that attempted to unlock the maturation secrets of Scotch whisky.
“The consistent quality and flavor of every drop of our Scotch whiskies is thanks to Stephanie and her team,” comments Dave Ingram, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Bacardi. “As Director of Blending, she will bring her mastery of the entire whisky-making process – from barley to bottle – to play a pivotal role in delivering our bold growth ambitions for Scotch whisky.”
Every day, she leads a team of Blenders and Assistant Blenders who benefit from her wealth of knowledge and expertise.
Stephanie will continue to share her story and her love of whisky in order to inspire others around the world to nose, taste, and enjoy a sensory experience unlike any other.
Supporting women in leadership is one of the key pillars of Bacardi's Belonging program, which focuses on developing programming, development opportunities, and other resources for underrepresented groups in the spirits industry. Bacardi's efforts were recently recognised by Forbes as one of the World's Top Female Friendly Companies.