Ian's Biography
Ian has been working in and around the whisky industry for about 20 years, but has been drinking professionally for a good deal longer. He’s older than Neil (that’s ‘more mature’, actually) but he doesn’t mention this. At least, not very often. Neil is a bit sensitive on this point.
After graduating, he worked for a small firm of West Country brewers but returned to Scotland in 1987 to work for Robertson & Baxter, the blenders (now better known as the Edrington Group). A spell as Group Marketing Director for Glenmorangie followed – where he launched Glenmorangie 18 year old and Glenmorangie Native Ross-shire (arguably the first branded cask-strength single-cask bottling) and put in place the first of the wood finishes.
In 1990 he was made a Keeper of the Quaich and promptly fell out with his boss. Rather badly.
So, in 1991, Ian established his own consulting business. He works with a number of clients, largely on brand development projects and distillery brand centres and brand experiences. Major projects include the creation of William Lawsons’ Distillery on the Road; Dewar’s World of Whisky; the Casa Bacardi centre in San Juan, Puerto Rico; master-planning for the redevelopment of the Glenfiddich visitor operations and the Balvenie distillery tour and concept development and feasibility studies for other clients in the UK, USA and Europe.
He began writing regularly for Whisky Magazine shortly after it launched, and now also writes for The Keeper, Marketing, Scotland Magazine, Scottish Field and in Russia for Whisky and Magnum magazines.
Ian has published two books: Whisky History, Hints & Tips and a facsimile edition of Aeneas MacDonald’s 1930 classic Whisky (Canongate, 2006) to which he contributed a new introduction and appreciation. He also collects whisky books and memorabilia (though his wife wants him to stop).
He is Conference Director of the World Whiskies Conference, which he describes as "the global summit for the international whisky business community" and he also presents whisky tastings for corporate clients.
In 2004 he moved with his wife near to Pitlochry in Perthshire, where they purchased a house and the derelict remains of the Tomdachoille Distillery. This was operated by Charles Duff & Co (and successors), distilling from 1816 to c1878 and was subsequently run as a dairy. 
Old milking equipment and bottles have been found, but sadly no whisky (yet) although it is clear that the southern end of the distillery acted as the kiln as part of the old haircloth (the perforated surface that the barley was spread over) is still evident.