Hall of Fame

From warehouse worker to master distiller, Russell Anderson’s 37-year career has left a lasting impression on Edrington’s whisky distilleries, including Macallan, whose new distillery he commissioned and has managed since 2018. Russell started out as a shift worker at the Glenrothes Distillery in Speyside in 1987, working across different departments and starting to build his experience and knowledge of the Scotch whisky industry. In 1995, Russell moved to Highland Park Distillery in Kirkwall, Orkney, where he worked as a brewer for three years before returning to Speyside to run production at the Macallan Distillery. As a member of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and having passed both the General Certificate in Distilling and Diploma in Distilling, Russell returned to Highland Park as distillery manager in April 2000. He remained there for 12 years where he was responsible for all production and warehousing as well as collaborating with the brand team to promote the distillery’s award-winning single malt with trade customers and consumers around the world. Russell returned to Macallan in 2012 as distillery manager, taking a leading role in the commissioning of its new £140 million distillery and visitor experience, which started production in 2017. He retires in March 2024, leaving behind an impressive portfolio of single malt and a legacy in the global whisky industry.