Rachel Barrie leads Brown-Forman’s entry to whisky market

As Brown-Forman expands beyond its American whiskey roots and returns to the Scotch whisky market, it has chosen master blender Rachel Barrie to lead production at its newly acquired BenRiach Distillery Company.

Brown-Forman Corporation purchased The BenRiach Distillery Company Limited for approximately £285 million in April 2016. The purchase brings three single malt Scotch whisky brands into Brown-Forman’s growing whiskey portfolio: The GlenDronach, BenRiach, and Glenglassaugh.

“We’d actually been looking to try to get back into the Single Malt Scotch business ever since we lost the rights to Glenmorangie in 2005,” Brown-Forman spokesman Phil Lynch told Whisky Cast.

BenRiach's current master distiller and blender Billy Walker had initially planned to stay with the company following the sale, but has since decided to step down. 

Rachel has 25 years of experience in the industry, starting as a research scientist at The Scotch Whisky Research Institute in the UK.  She was a master blender at The Glenmorangie Company for eight years before moving to Beam Suntory's Morrison Bowmore Distillers in 2011.

"I thought this is my opportunity to have a huge influence and to really make a difference in making whisky," she told Scotch Whisky. "Billy is moving on, so for me to follow in his footsteps to take a view on so many aspects of whisky creation was a good opportunity.

"I spent five years with MBD and got to know all their stock profile, every little nugget. I put my heart and soul into it. There’s phenomenal whisky being released and there will continue to be phenomenal whisky, but I can make a greater difference at BenRiach. I’m absolutely honoured, privileged to have spent the time with all these phenomenal whiskies."

Ron Welsh, senior manager of inventory management and spirit quality at Beam Suntory, said: "We are delighted for Rachel, and we know she will be a great asset to BenRiach.

"Rachel has made a lasting impact during her time at MBD and Beam Suntory, playing an important role in the creation of some of our most innovative and premium whiskies."

Before becoming a master blender, Rachel held positions in product development, product quality and research within the drinks industry.  These experiences have helped her become one of Scotland’s most regarded whisky makers.

Rachel told Miss Whisky how privileged she is “to work with the most wonderful and complex spirit in the world and to be a role model for others to enter the industry.”  She also gave her opinion on having more women enter the industry.

“I absolutely feel that more women should be involved,” she said. “More women (and indeed men) are getting interested in and developing a taste for whisky…. attending whisky festivals and ordering single malt at the bar. As interest has gathered pace, we need passionate, knowledgeable and experienced people (men and women) to educate and encourage those who are just discovering whisky.”

“I believe the industry can only benefit from having women involved, in the same way as the wine industry has over the past decade.”