Juliette Buchan

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got into the whisky industry?

I am French from birth and Scottish from heart. I started in the industry in February 2007, when I moved back to Scotland for the second time.

I was looking for a job within the drink industry as I had previous experience in Import/ Export in the wine industry. I reached out to two whisky companies which were in the vicinity of where we were planning to move to and Gordon and MacPhail asked me in for a chat. The rest is history!

What inspired you to pursue a career in whisky?

I have always been interested in wines and spirits but my career move was more by accident as I initially trained as a language teacher.

Life took me back to France for a while and I moved into the perfume industry and then worked for an agency doing wine export.

When my husband and I decided Scotland was calling again, it seemed that whisky was the perfect fit.

What does your current role involve, and what do you enjoy most about it?

I started in logistics before moving on to international sales in 2010. I left Gordon and MacPhail after 12 yo to explore other avenues and joined the GlenAllachie in February 2019 in a similar position.

In February 2024 (I can see a pattern here) I decided to put the suitcase down and took on a new challenge as Brand Home Manager within GlenAllachie distillery, looking after their growing visitor centre.

Can you share some memorable moments or milestones in your whisky journey?

There are so many to talk about .. the launch of the 70 yo from Gordon and MacPhail at Edinburgh castle, an unforgettable trip to South Africa, my last trip on Cinderella whisky cruise, meeting the late Queen in 2013 and being made Keeper of the Quaich in 2016 would be the highlights of my whisky journey so far.

However every tasting, every festival, every trip and every encounter has been both rewarding and memorable. Even the nicest whisky and most fantastic places would be nothing without the people around them.

What are some challenges you’ve faced in your career and how did you overcome them?

Biggest challenge has been to have to prove oneself as a woman in the industry. In addition, not being Scottish has often been questioned, not so much by my peers but by male consumers, looking over my shoulder to get to speak to someone with more kudos.

Time has moved on and today’s consumers are more open minded, with many more women working in the industry and many more women consumers proudly joining the male crowd at festivals or tastings.

What do you think sets your approach to whisky apart from others?

I often describe whisky as I would describe people, character and the way they make you feel being much more important in my view than age or colour.

What trends in the whisky industry excite you the most?

Many distilleries are now looking into different type of yeast and I am looking forward to seeing the result of this experimentation.

What’s your favorite whisky and why?

It is a trick question .. I have a favourite style but not a favourite whisky as such as the whisky I will pour next will depends on my mood, the season, the time of day, and the people I am sharing it with. It is more about the moment than the whisky itself!

However I think a GlenAllachie is always a good companion

What advice would you give to someone looking to start their journey in the whisky world?

Go for it! It is a wonderful industry to be in with a great network of passionate people. Remain curious and thirsty for knowledge, stay open minded and most of all remain humble.

Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives you’re particularly excited about?

There is a GlenAllachie bottling I am very excited about coming our way soon but I could not possible tell you any more!