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Hall of Fame

Whiskies

Dennis  Malcolm

Dennis Malcolm

Inductee: 20

Whiskies - 2014

Scotland
To use a uniquely Scottish phrase, Dennis Malcolm is ‘in with the bricks’ at Glen Grant distillery, located in the Speyside whisky-making centre of Rothes.

As managing director and Master Distiller for the Gruppo Campari-owned distillery, he boasts the impeccable credentials of having been born in the grounds of Glen Grant in 1946, where his father was a stillman, while his grandfather had also worked there as a a mashman and stillman. His career began at his ‘home’ distillery in 1961 as an apprentice cooper, subsequently graduating to the role of brewer at the young age of 24.

The mid-1970s saw him acting as assistant manager for Glen Grant and the ‘sister’ distillery of Caperdonich, before his appointment in February 1979 as manager at The Glenlivet. He returned to Glen Grant and Caperdonich as manager in 1983, going on to run Chivas Brothers’ nine malt distilleries, a grain distillery and three farms from a base at Strathisla.

Malcolm spent a brief period as a brand ambassador, before being ‘poached’ by Inver House Distillers to manage their Balmenach distillery in December 1999.

He was tempted back to Glen Grant in April 2006 when new owners Campari did their own spot of poaching, and the pride and affection Malcolm feels for Glen Grant is evident to everyone who meets him.

Since his return, Malcolm has presided over a significant widening of the brand’s range of single malts, including the limited edition ‘Five Decades,’ single malt, specially crafted by Dennis to celebrate his long involvement with Glen Grant.

In April 2013, HRH Prince Charles openned a bottling line at the distillery, signalling further investment in the future of this site which is indeed fortunate to have so passionate an advocate as Dennis Malcolm at the helm.

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