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The Ardbeg
Committee ushers in a new era of
leadership as long-standing Distillery
Committee Chair Jackie Thomson passes
the smoky torch to Master Blender
Gillian Macdonald and Visitor Centre
Planner Bryony McNiven, a proud Islay
native.
The Ardbeg
Committee ushers in a new era of
leadership as long-standing Distillery
figure and Committee Chair Jackie
Thomson passes the smoky torch to Master
Blender Gillian Macdonald and Visitor
Centre Planner Bryony McNiven, a proud
Islay native. Marking a historic first,
this dynamic duo becomes the Committee’s
first-ever co-chairs in its 25-year
history. Together, they aim to deepen
the connection between Ardbeg and its
global fanbase, sharing their passion
for the distillery’s famously peaty malt
with whisky lovers around the world.
Established in 2000, the Ardbeg
Committee was created to protect the
future of the Distillery after it came
perilously close to closure. Today, with
over 200,000 members across more than
130 countries, the Committee continues
to uphold its founding mission: to
ensure that "the doors of Ardbeg never
close again." This year, the community
proudly celebrates 25 years as dedicated
custodians of what they consider the
ultimate Islay malt.
Reflecting on her time at Ardbeg, Jackie
said: "My mind is a-buzz with so many
fantastic memories. From the outlandish
costumes I’ve donned for Ardbeg Day to
the musical extravaganzas we have
hosted. We’ve survived power cuts,
madcap experiments and a global
pandemic. We have welcomed wedding
parties, film crews and many Committee
Members who have made the pilgrimage to
Islay. It’s been a peaty privilege to
get to know them all.
"I couldn’t think of two better women to
pass the baton to. Bryony has worked
alongside me as Ardbeg’s Visitor Centre
Planner for the past seven years. And
Gillian is Ardbeg’s Master Blender, no
less. Together they have a shared
knowledge of Ardbeg the whisky and
Ardbeg the place, that is quite unique."
Former colleagues in Ardbeg’s Whisky
Creation Team, Gillian and Bryony share
a deep-rooted passion for the distillery
and bold ambitions for the future.
Building on Jackie’s legacy, they plan
to take things even further—bringing the
Committee’s voice closer than ever to
the heart of Ardbeg’s whisky making.
Gillian said: "It goes without saying
that Jackie will be sorely missed by our
Committee and by all at Ardbeg. Hers are
big boots to fill, but Bryony and I will
do our best as Co-Chairs – perhaps by
wearing one each!
"In my role as Ardbeg’s Master Blender,
some of my favourite moments have been
creating Committee releases and letting
them loose on the people whose opinion
really matters. I’ve always loved
meeting and talking to the Ardbeg
faithful, then going back to the lab
with their fiery passion ringing in my
ears. As Chair, I’m excited to bring the
fans and the drams even closer
together."
Following in the footsteps of her
father, who worked at Ardbeg for 35
years, Bryony said: "I've lived and
breathed Ardbeg all my life, being the
daughter of a stillman. For a while I
was based in Sweden as an Ardbeg brand
ambassador, before working alongside
Gillian in the Whisky Creation Team. But
the Distillery is where my heart is, so
now I’m back on Islay where my job in
the Visitor Centre is to make Ardbeg the
most welcoming Distillery on Earth. As
Committee Chair, I can’t wait to pick up
where Jackie has left off – sharing good
drams, spreading the Ardbeg love and
having fun!"
Smoky malt whisky fans eager to be part
of Ardbeg’s future and stay in the loop
on all things Ardbeg can join the Ardbeg
Committee for free at ardbeg.com/en-gb/committee.
You will find the current
Ardbeg whisky range available from specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
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