What does it take to be Glenfiddich’s malt master? In depth with Brian Kinsman

What does it take to be Glenfiddich’s malt master? In depth with Brian Kinsman

From Drinks At Work with Sam Bygrave by Boothby Media

February 5, 2026 · 32 min

About this episode

Sam Bygrave interviews Brian Kinsman about the intricacies of whisky production and tasting.

In this episode Sam Bygrave talks to Brian Kinsman of Glenfiddich and William Grant & Sons, and delves into the intricate world of whisky, focusing on the importance of aroma, the role of technology in whisky analysis, and why the human nose can't be beat. We talk about the significance of the human nose in identifying whisky characteristics, the innovative use of trained dogs for quality control, and the techniques for tasting and assessing whisky.

People in this episode

Host: Sam Bygrave

Guest: Brian Kinsman

Topics covered

  • whisky
  • aroma
  • technology
  • quality control
  • tasting techniques

Keywords

  • whisky
  • aroma
  • human nose
  • trained dogs
  • quality control
  • tasting
  • assessment

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Glenfiddich, William Grant & Sons

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