I have been called a whisky expert but I don’t like the word. I see myself as a whisky educator. 

Whisky, particularly single malts, drew me to Scotland 20 years ago. For the last 14 years whisky taken me across Asia Pacific. I have turned a passion into a career in whisky, but there is still so much about the spirit that I am learning. This why I dislike the term expert; I know a lot about whisky, but there’s still a lot I don’t know.

I love whisky and am living the dream of drinking, writing and talking about whisky every day. Whisky intrigues me, excites me and brings me joy. In 2012 I even named my daughter Islay. Aside from being a dramatically beautiful and iconic whisky-producing island, Islay is also where my wife and I honeymooned.

HOW IT FIRST STARTED

My first encounters with whisky were while I was a student studying chemistry at the University of Western Australia (UWA) in Perth. Whisky became my spirit of choice, possibly because my father and grandmother had always been whisky drinkers.

But the passion had not yet been ignited. I only became irrevocably hooked on whisky, particularly single malts, on the evening of my university graduation. That night, my family and I celebrated over dinner. My celebratory nightcap was one of Islay’s famously peaty single malt whiskies. Though it was intense and confronting at first, I was hooked by the end of the glass. I immediately wanted to understand where the incredibly rich smokiness came from. Today I still am fascinated by how three simple ingredients – barley, water and yeast – can come together to produce the incredible diversity of flavours, aromas and textures found in single malts.

I first worked as a business analyst but the lure of the dram slowly reeled me in, closer and closer. Though it’s a distant memory now, my time studying chemistry and working as an analyst has served me well in my understanding and appreciation of whisky.

What began as a preference became a hobby and passion, then part-time work and ultimately my career. Today, having spent the last 14 years extolling the virtues of whisky, I have accumulated a wealth of first-hand experience across the verticals of the whisky industry – from production through to service.

HOW IT TOOK OFF

CAREER

I got my first break working part-time as the State Manager of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Western Australia. In 2009, I moved to Singapore and started Stewart’s Whisky Consultancy. Here, I also managed the iconic whisky bar The Auld Alliance which houses Southeast Asia’s largest whisky selection.

Fast forward a few years, I was headhunted for the regional brand ambassador role for Glenfiddich under William Grant & Sons. There, I had the opportunities to network and collaborate with top minds in the industry across the Asia Pacific. The company groomed, supported and opened many doors for my personal development within the company and in the industry.

In late 2018, I was approached and started my new role as Chief Marketing Officer at The Whisky Store, TSH Limited. I increased visibility, channels and bench strength for the Group, from retail to distribution. Unfortunately, COVID-19 had a global impact on the F&B businesses and I was made redundant mid-2020. This propelled me to put my knowledge and experience into a business I can call my own. In the same year, I co-founded Spun Spirits Pte Ltd.. 

COMMUNITY

As a big believer in whisky community, I am one of the creators of the 20,000 strong whisky community Dram Full with four chapters in Asia Pacific. Namely, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Perth, Australia. I am also the author of Whisky Molecules and Son of Whisky on Facebook. When inspiration strikes, I contribute to the more satirical but still community-oriented Dramocracy. Along the way, I have written extensively about whisky, including the two authoritative papers on chill-filtration published by The Malt Maniacs.

AWARDS

During my time at William Grant & Sons, I was awarded Icons of Whisky – Rest of World, Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador of the year, 2017, by Whisky Magazine. In 2018, my peers in the Singapore drinks industry selected me as the Best Education and Community Ambassador for Singapore Bar Awards. I furthered my whisky education and obtained a General Certificate in Distilling (Cereal Option) from the prestigious Institute of Brewing and Distilling in same year.

In 2019, I collaborated with Lucaris Crystal to design and develop the world’s first specialised whisky glassware. This project accelerated during the lockdown. Named The Gràn Collection, the set of four crystal glassware is designed to pick up whisky characteristics and enhance the appreciation of different nuances in the drams. The Gràn Collection is the winner of iF Design Award 2021  and Tableware Excellence Award 2022.