Brendan McCarron
Master Distiller
Brendan McCarron is an accomplished professional in the whisky and distilling industry. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering with honours. Brendan began his career as a graduate of Diageo’s Global Supply Graduate Scheme, specializing in Burghead Maltings. Throughout his career, Brendan has held various roles at Diageo and Moet Hennessey, showcasing his expertise and leadership abilities. He has been involved in designing a new distillery, managing teams, creating blends, and implementing global strategies that resulted in significant cost savings. Brendan’s remarkable achievements include receiving awards for his outstanding performance and contributions to the industry.
In his last role as Master Distiller at Distell, Brendan is responsible for overseeing whisky production from start to finish. He has overall responsibility for three single malt distilleries and one blend, managing the distillation of millions of litres across multiple sites. Within his first 12 months at Distell, Brendan has achieved notable accomplishments, including revitalizing a whisky expression that won The Whisky Exchange’s Whisky of the Year award, introducing innovative products that garnered significant sales and media reach, and implementing sustainable practices that led to a substantial reduction in energy use.
Brendan is dedicated to nurturing talent within the organization and actively engages in mentoring opportunities for individuals in the brewing and distilling community. He has been recognized for his contributions, with accolades such as being a category winner at the World Whisky Regional Awards and being shortlisted for the IWSC Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year award. Overall, Brendan McCarron is a highly accomplished professional with a passion for the whisky industry. He possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and his dedication to excellence and sustainability continues to drive his success.
