Hall of Fame

Jackie’s career in the Scotch whisky industry began at Ardbeg’s sister distillery, Glenmorangie, in 1996. In 1997 Ardbeg was purchased by the Glenmorangie Company (which in turn was purchased by luxury conglomerate LVMH in 2004) and an opportunity arose to join the distillery team on Islay. Jackie took on the role of creating and managing Ardbeg’s visitor experience, which officially opened its doors in 1998. For more than 25 years, Jackie has been instrumental in creating an engaging and welcoming experience for those making the pilgrimage to Ardbeg. From informative tours and tastings – delivered with a healthy dose of quirky ‘Ardbeggian’ personality – to delicious food offerings at the Old Kiln Café and ARDstream Trailer, Jackie has led a team that has firmly put Ardbeg on the map as a must-visit destination for visitors to Islay. She has also orchestrated the iconic Ardbeg Day celebrations for two decades, making it one of the biggest days in the distillery’s calendar and the highly anticipated crescendo of the annual Fèis Ìle festival of music and malt. In 2021, Jackie was appointed as chair of the Ardbeg Committee, the distillery’s global following of dedicated fans. Islay, with a population of just 3,000 people, has more than 140 committees – and the Ardbeg Committee is the biggest of them all with a worldwide membership of 180,000 and counting. With a tenure that has spanned a quarter of a century, Jackie has been a part of Ardbeg’s journey since that pivotal moment in 1997 and continues to steer the ship and make the distillery a home from home for global whisky lovers. She brings an infectious enthusiasm to her role that has inspired many new single malt drinkers and Ardbeg enthusiasts alike. With the Ardbeg Committee’s founding mission to ‘ensure that the doors of Ardbeg would never close again’, Jackie has been a leading light in nurturing the distillery’s rise from the ashes to its cult status today.