EUAN KENNEDY

The Macallan's lead whisky maker on upholding craft, maintaining discipline and embracing simple pleasures.

- Alvin Wong

EUAN KENNEDY HAD no choice but to hit the ground running when he joined The Macallan as its lead whisky maker in 2022. The storied distillery would be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2 years then, and Kennedy was tasked with creating what would be Time:Space Mastery, the second expression of two Time:Space releases to mark The Macallan’s bicentenary.

“Pressure? Yes. But I viewed it as a positive thing. I mean, what an opportunity to really influence and shape a whisky like that, and leave a benchmark for the future,” says Kennedy.

Integrating single malt scotch from 14 different cask types, spanning European and American oak sherry seasoned casks to refill casks took a sure hand and a finely tuned palate—and Kennedy is well equipped with both.

A graduate from Heriot-Watt University’s brewing and distilling programme, Kennedy has accumulated rich and varied experiences. According to a whisky specialist website, he has worked across a variety of fields, including helming maltings and a distillery as well as developing ready-to drink products.

Now, as part of a close-knit team that has the keys to The Macallan distillery, Kennedy is aware of the immense responsibility to uphold its legacy of “incomparable craftsmanship and creativity”. Working with The Macallan’s master whisky maker Kirsteen Campbell, he oversees The Macallan’s core range, creates rare and highly aged expressions, and leads research and development.