The Balevenie, Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie and Brand Ambassador Jamie Johnson
Raise a dram to women who break barriers and showcase exceptional skill, leadership, and a true passion for craft this International Women’s Day.
Leading the charge of women at The Balvenie is globally respected Malt Master, Kelsey McKechnie, who demonstrates a bold approach to innovation and a deep respect for tradition. Second comes National Brand Ambassador Jamie Johnson, whose passion for whisky has led to her notoriety as one of Canada’s top whisky experts.
Kelsey McKechnie has earned her recognition as a global whisky community leader in an industry historically dominated by men. She graduated from the University of West Scotland with a BSc in Biology. She joined The Balvenie in 2014, where she simultaneously worked to achieve a Master’s in Brewing and Distilling and an MBA while working at the distillery. She was appointed Apprentice Malt Master at 26, becoming one of the youngest women globally to achieve this rare title.
In her role as Apprentice Malt Master, Kelsey McKechnie studied alongside David C. Stewart for several years before taking on the role of The Balvenie Malt Master in 2023. McKechnie was appointed the title in recognition of her fearless approach to experimentation and time-honoured tradition, which she married with a genuine respect for craftsmanship. Following her appointment, David C. Stewart transitioned from the role of Malt Master, a title he held since 1974, to Honorary Ambassador and Former Malt Master.
“I am extremely proud to inspire women in the whisky industry while continuing The Balvenie’s rich legacy,” comments Kelsey McKechnie, The Balvenie Malt Master. “I am humbled to have learned from David C. Stewart, a living whisky legend. As his legacy lives on for generations to come, I look forward to building upon his innovation and techniques, while putting my stamp on whisky experimentation at The Balvenie.”
One of Kelsey’s first innovations was inspired by the idea to craft an even fruitier, sweeter variant of The Balvenie. To bring this idea to life, Kelsey sourced Kentucky Virgin Oak barrels from the Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, Kentucky. The family-run cooperage toasts each cask in an open fire, activating the vanillins within the American Oak, creating a nutty, marzipan aroma. The pre-toasted barrels then spent 6 weeks in transit from Kentucky, spanning 3,792 miles to the hills of The Balvenie Distillery. The Balvenie Cooperage then toasted them further, creating depth of flavour, colour and vanilla. The barrels were filled with Balvenie whisky aged in ex-bourbon casks for a few months. This finishing period, also known as secondary maturation, is pioneered by former Malt Master David C. Stewart and is widely known in the present industry as Cask Finishing. The resulting whisky, appropriately named The Balvenie Sweet Toast of American Oak, is a storied, complex single malt with rich colour and incandescent notes of caramelized fruits, delicate vanilla and oak that demonstrate the hallmark of Kelsey’s approach to whisky making – where bold artistry meets handcrafted tradition.
“I am incredibly inspired to work alongside Kelsey McKechnie, who has contributed to the legacy of women in the whisky industry on a global scale,” comments Jamie Johnson, National Brand Ambassador, The Balvenie.
As the face of The Balvenie in Canada, Jamie Johnson has also led a career as a notable voice in the whisky community. Her podcast “The Bourbon Thing” stemmed from a passion project that grew in popularity and was a creative outlet for her to taste and discuss drams with friends. As interest in whisky grew across Canada, so did Jamie’s popularity, leading her to build relationships with national influencers and venues organically. In 2018, Jamie joined an elite group of whisky experts after completing the prestigious General Certificate in Distilling.
Awarded by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD), the General Certificate in Distilling promotes excellence in education, training and professional standards in the science and technology of distilling on a global scale. Jamie joined the team at The Balvenie as the Canadian Brand Ambassador over 8 years ago and has since continued to educate the country about the importance of craftsmanship in the whisky process.
Kelsey’s first whisky, The Balvenie Sweet Toast of American Oak, is available as part of The Balvenie Stories Range, a collection of single malt whiskies representing tales of character, endeavour, and craft. Each handcrafted whisky tells a story of The Balvenie Distillery’s promise of ultimate craftsmanship.
The Stories Range is available in Canada and includes The Balvenie Sweet Toast of American Oak and The Balvenie Week of Peat. F
For more information about The Balvenie globally, please visit: https://www.thebalvenie.com.
ABOUT THE BALVENIE
The Balvenie is a unique range of single malts created by David Stewart MBE, The Balvenie Malt Master was awarded an MBE for services to the Scotch whisky industry by Queen Elizabeth II in 2016. The Balvenie is currently helmed by Kelsey McKechnie, who became Malt Master in 2023. Each expression has a very individual taste, but is rich, luxuriously smooth and underpinned by the distinctively honeyed character of The Balvenie. The Balvenie is dedicated to the five rare crafts that are used to create The Balvenie’s distinctive taste. It is the only distillery that still grows its barley, uses traditional floor maltings, and keeps coppersmiths and coopers on site – making The Balvenie the most handcrafted single malts. The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky is produced by William Grant & Sons Ltd, an award-winning independent family-owned distiller founded by William Grant in 1886 and today run by his direct descendants.
ABOUT WILLIAM GRANT & SONS
William Grant & Sons, Ltd, is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom. It was founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the luxury spirits company is run by the fourth generation of his family. It distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world’s most awarded single malt Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts, and the world’s third largest blended Scotch, Grant’s®, as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Sailor Jerry®, Tullamore D.E.W.® Irish Whiskey, Monkey Shoulder® and Drambuie®, Reyka® Vodka and Milagro® Tequila. Represented in Canada by PMA Canada Agency. www.pmacanada.com.
