Glen Grant’s Master Distiller, Dennis Malcolm, has been awarded an OBE at Buckingham Palace, as he took his place in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his services to business and the Speyside community.
The 70-year-old was born in the grounds of Glen Grant distillery in Rothes in 1946 and began his career in the whisky industry there in 1961 as an apprentice cooper.
His ensuing 55-year career as seen him tend the stills at several distilleries across Speyside. Malcolm returned to Glen Grant to manage the distillery in 2006 and stepped down last year.
He remains Glen Grant’s Master Distiller and has overseen three new aged expressions released this year, including Glen Grant 12 Year Old, Glen Grant 12 Year Old Non Chill Filtered, and Glen Grant 18 Year Old.
Malcolm said, “I’m at a loss for words and extremely surprised with being awarded a recognition like this. My grandfather worked for Major Grant and my father worked in the whisky industry as well, so, I was destined to be a part of it.
“I’d really like to think that this is an honour that belongs to all of Speyside, not just myself. Speyside been so good to me, and that I have always tried my best to put some good back into it.”