The Balvenie Sixty is the primary McKechnie signed as a malt grasp, because the whisky was chosen by her for Stewart on his anniversary. The 2 share a powerful bond, as McKechnie famous that she is “extraordinarily humbled to have discovered from David, an extremely educated and affected person man, and a dwelling whisky legend”.
McKechnie was first appointed to the place of Apprentice Malt Grasp on the age of 26, changing into one of many youngest girls globally to realize this title. She first joined as a Technical Graduate in 2014, after graduating from The College of West Scotland in 2014 with a BSc in Biology and Organic Sciences. She then studied an MSc in Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt College.
McKechnie commented: “My apprenticeship at The Balvenie taught me many issues, however significantly about endurance, collaboration and perseverance. Persevering with our craft is a privilege and I look ahead to seeing The Balvenie via the generations to come back as a malt grasp.”
Recognized for her progressive but respectful method to crafting The Balvenie’s whiskies, McKechnie has turn into an integral a part of the group over the past 4 years, taking over extra accountability in all facets of the malt grasp function.
“Custom is essential on the Balvenie, it’s how we keep the standard of our spirit, however it’s a balancing act as we additionally need to innovate. This experiment was to have a look at how I may elevate the home type via utilizing new Oak casks, handcrafted for this whisky at Kelvin Cooperage within the USA,” McKechnie added.
An instance of the mentorship between Stewart and McKechnie is the discharge of ‘Candy Toast of American Oak’, the primary whisky innovation led by McKechnie utilizing the method, cask ending, which was pioneered by Stewart within the Nineteen Eighties.
“Over the previous few years my relationship with David has developed from a instructor to a mentor and now a friendship. I look ahead to constructing my very own legacy inside the whisky business, shaping and innovating, while honouring the custom that The Balvenie is constructed on,” McKechnie continued.
