BRUICHLADDICH Distillery has appointed whisky and brewing specialist Lisa Matthews as its first female Assistant Blender, marking the latest chapter in the progressive Hebridean producer's long-standing commitment to developing the next generation of whisky makers from Islay.
Matthews, 33, returns to Bruichladdich more than a decade after first working at the distillery as an 18-year-old tour guide. As Assistant Blender, she will join the team led by Bruichladdich Master Blender Adam Hannet – working alongside him on the company’s single malt Scotch whisky and gin portfolio.
Matthews, who grew up in Port Ellen, has built a career spanning brewing, gin production and Scotch whisky, becoming Scotland's youngest female brewer before gaining production experience at Stirling Distillery, Ardgowan Distillery, Caol Ila and Port Ellen.
Her entry to the team mirrors a route familiar to Bruichladdich's Master Blender Adam Hannett, who also began his career with the business as a tour guide before progressing through the distillery into one of the most prestigious roles in the industry.
Matthews rejoined Bruichladdich in 2025 as Production Administrator after returning to Islay, quickly becoming involved in cask selection, sensory analysis, quality assurance and new product development alongside Hannett before being appointed Assistant Blender earlier this year. She now joins the production team as the distillery's first female distiller.
Despite the significance of the milestone, Matthews believes appointments should ultimately be judged on ability rather than gender.
She said: "I'd love the day when appointing a woman as a distiller isn't considered unusual – it should simply be about the right person getting the opportunity, but representation matters. When I first worked at Bruichladdich, I didn't really see women in production roles, so becoming part of that change is something I'm incredibly proud of."