Hall of Fame

Having spent over 30 years in the industry, Ian Atherton’s long career in whisky began back in the early 80s when he started working for Gilbeys, a spirits company that sold both Scotch and Australian Whisky.

He then moved to Suntory where he specialised and brought the Japanese whisky category of Suntory to Australia, among other great brands.

After Suntory, he joined Spirits Platform in 2016 as CEO. He has been responsible for their portfolio of premium spirits and has grown their whiskies with Scotch, Irish and US brands such as The Macallan, Highland Park, Bruichladdich, Octomore and more recently The Irishman, Westlands and Writer’s Tears.

And if that is not impressive enough, he has recently been inducted as a Keeper of the Quaich, the international society established by the Scotch whisky industry to recognise the outstanding achievements of those who produce or promote the world’s finest spirit.