I don’t really remember what I wanted to be when I was a child, but I think I went through the ‘normal’ run of ideas – teacher, fire fighter, doctor, then moved on engineer (like my dad!) and artist for a while, before realising I enjoyed science.

My journey into whisky blending evolved over time. My background is in chemistry, which I studied at the University of Edinburgh, and after completing a PhD in Sheffield I returned to Scotland and worked as a process chemist at GlaxoSmithKline. I knew I wanted to stay within the science field and I started at Diageo as a project scientist in 2008, working in various roles within whisky, each of which have grown my knowledge and experience of Scotch production and innovation.

For over a decade, I have been part of a small team of 12 expert whisky makers working together in the pursuit of whisky excellence. In 2021, I was honoured to be appointed as the first female Master Blender, tasked with continuing Johnnie Walker’s 200-year legacy of creating pioneering blends whilst taking this into a new chapter, for example, the launch of Johnnie Walker Vault.

I was incredibly lucky to learn from the incredible Dr Jim Beveridge who played a pivotal role in the development of my craft and approach to whisky blending. I still incorporate science into my creations, as the art of whisky blending is equally about storytelling as it is about the science behind the process. A big part of how I approach creating a bespoke Johnnie Walker Vault blend is creating the rich flavour profiles. I apply my scientific background to this, delving into the 10 million casks that are available to me as Master Blender to create something that’s truly unique and sings to a range of tastes.

Most days start around 6-7am, especially when I’ve got a long day ahead in the blending lab or an early call with one of our global teams. By 8am, I’m usually in the lab. My day often begins with sensory work, and that means relying on my nose more than anything else. Smelling whisky is how we start developing a blend – our sense of smell is incredibly nuanced, and it’s key to understanding how the whisky will evolve. Once I’ve narrowed down some promising profiles, I’ll move on to tasting. That helps me fine-tune the taste, mouthfeel, balance, and strength.

After that, it’s usually time to dive into the data. With more than 10 million ageing casks in the Johnnie Walker inventory, we spend a fair amount of time reviewing our stocks and planning blends not just for today, but for years down the line. PowerBI and Excel are my unlikely sidekicks – helping me keep track of where each whisky is in its aging process and how we can use it creatively.

Being Master Blender at Johnnie Walker is a unique blend of science and art, legacy and innovation. Every day is a new challenge, but that’s what keeps it exciting. After all, we’re not just preserving history – we’re shaping the future of Scotch.

At the very heart of Johnnie Walker Vault is the principle of blending artistry; the beauty of this platform is that it enables me to interpret and translate a favourite memory, season or place into liquid form. It’s something we have never done before, and the possibilities are endless.

First, I immerse myself into the unique stories of my guests, getting to know the key anecdotes that have shaped their lives. I then take these elements to create a deeply personalised blend entirely tailored to the individuals’ inspirations and palettes. I’m truly spoiled for choice with Johnnie Walker Vault’s curated selection of 500 whiskies that I personally selected to be housed in the physical space underneath Princes Street.

Johnnie Walker Vault has given me the chance to work with some incredible creatives. To celebrate the platform, I worked alongside three visionary artists: Kelly Wearstler, Gabriel Moses and Yoyo Cao, who were brought together to showcase how blending artistry is a universal art form that translates across a multitude of artistic industries. It was a privilege to capture their rich personal stories and creative narratives into three private bespoke expressions.

However, I would say the most significant moment for me is working with Johnnie Walker Vault’s inaugural collaboration partner [and Balmain creative director] Olivier Rousteing, the first artist ever to be invited to co-create with me. It has been truly fascinating to blend the art of couture with the art of whisky, resulting in something exquisite that transforms Rousteing’s inspiring story into an incredibly limited blend. The result is a fusion of highly sought-after whisky expressions, combined to create something that completely pushes the boundaries of luxury whisky creation.

It’s important that the whisky industry continues to talk about the diverse range of people  who work in whisky – if you see someone like yourself doing a job, it’s easier to picture yourself in a similar role. We strongly believe whisky is for everyone and we’re committed to championing inclusion in every sense. Through advertising, innovation, and experiences, we are working hard to change the perception of the traditional whisky drinker so that it is just a given that women work in and enjoy drinking whisky, and it’s not talked about as an issue to overcome. Johnnie Walker Vault is very much part of that overall picture.