Charles MacLean is a writer whose special subject is Scotch whisky, about which he has published eight books to date, including the standard work on whisky brands, Scotch Whisky and the leading book on its subject, Malt Whisky, both of which were short-listed for Glenfiddich Awards.Whisky: A Liquid History, published by Cassell in 2003 was named Wine and Spirit Book of the Year (2005) by the James Beard Foundation of New York. MacLean’s Whisky Miscellany was published in 2004.

He was founding editor of Whisky Magazine, and since 1995 has been Contributing Editor of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Newsletter (where he also chairs the Nosing Panel and writes the tasting notes). He is whisky correspondent of Scottish Field, British Editor of Whisky (Russia), and Consultant Editor to Fine Expressions (London). In addition he regularly contributes to magazines in Britain, The Netherlands, the U.S. and Canada.

He was trained in ‘the sensory evaluation of potable spirits’ by the Scotch Whisky Research Institute in 1992 and has presented numerous tastings and talks in the U.K. and abroad for whisky companies, corporations, universities and clubs, and on radio and TV. He is a member of the Judging Panel (Spirits) of the International Wines & Spirits Competition, and was runner-up as ‘Communicator of the Year’ in the 2003 IWSC Awards.

He acts as a consultant to the whisky industry on a variety of matters, and over the past 20 years has written promotional materials for all the leading companies and brands. He is also Whisky Consultant to Bonhams Auctioneers.

He was elected a Keeper of the Quaich, the industry’s highest accolade, in 1992 for ‘his services to Scotch over many years.

Roger Mallindine has been in the Scotch Whisky Industry for over 40 years, 35 of which have been with Diageo GB. His passion for Scotch has taken him beyond his role as a roving Ambassador. He was responsible for the first ever Johnnie Walker Mentor Programme which was adopted globally for International Scotch Whisky Ambassadors.

Roger has lectured on cruise liners and has conducted tutored tastings throughout Europe and the UK. He has also lectured at universities and institutions in the City of London,Westminster and the South East.

He has also presented Malts and Blends to Royalty in aid of the the Princes Trust at Highgrove and to the King of Ghana whilst on his visit to the U.K.

Roger was given the Freedom of the City of London in 1998 and joined the Guild of Freemen of the City of London in the same year. He was later made a director of the Guild and became a Court Assistant.

For his contribution to the Industry, Roger was proposed as a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers in the Millennium and in 2002 was made a Keeper of the Quaich.

His final accolade was in 2007 when he was summoned to Glasgow and was given the Freedom of the City and became a “Burgess of Glasgow”.

So you could say that finally an Englishman is recognized as an honorary Scot!