After a career spanning 63 years in the Scotch whisky industry, longtime Glen Grant master distiller Dennis Malcolm OBE will retire at the end of next month. He will be succeeded by veteran Glen Grant distillery director Greig Stables effective July 1.
Malcolm began his career at age 16 as an apprentice cooper at Glen Grant, where both his father and grandfather worked, and where he was born on the distillery grounds. He worked his way up to become Glen Grant’s distillery manager before leaving to manage several other distilleries around Scotland, but returned in 2006 when Campari acquired the distillery. Malcolm was honored with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2016 for his services to the industry and the greater Speyside community.
In a statement announcing his retirement, Malcolm said “As I look ahead to my retirement, it has led to much reflection of my career over the past 63 years. I am immensely proud to have been part of The Glen Grant family, and I say family because I have always considered my time here as a way of life and not a job of work. While I will always be a whisky-maker at heart, I look forward to settling into a new phase, spending time with family and enjoying my beloved Rothes. I know the legacy of The Glen Grant will now be in the safest of hands with Greig. I raise a toast to him and his unwavering passion for The Glen Grant.”
Julka Villa, Campari’s Group Head of Marketing, said Malcolm’s tenure profoundly shaped the legacy of Glen Grant. “His dedication, expertise, and passion for making the best whisky possible have left an indelible mark on every bottle we’ve crafted. As Dennis steps into a well-deserved retirement, we will honor his legacy by continuing to produce whiskies to make Dennis proud,” Villa said.
Stables has spent the last 18 years at Glen Grant, and as distillery director, has been responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations at the distillery working alongside Malcolm.