Our Makers - Distillery Ambassador Graham and Experience Host Rachael

Our Makers series shines a light on the people whose passion, knowledge and experience shape every aspect of The Dalmore - defining our Highland Single Malt and every experience surrounding it.

For this edition, we sat down with Graham, Distillery Ambassador, and Rachael, Experience Host and Administrator to talk about life at The Dalmore following the reimagining of the distillery. Together, they play a key role in welcoming guests and guiding them through an immersive experience into the world of The Dalmore.

Firstly, we’d love to know, which is your favourite expression of The Dalmore, and what is your perfect serve

Graham
I'm a big fan of The Dalmore Aged 18 Years because it's the epitome of our house style of chocolate, orange and spice. However, I do enjoy The Dalmore Aged 40 Years for the same reasons too - although I've only had it once.

I really like The Dalmore Old Fashioned we make in-house as an option for our guests after every experience. It's sweet and bitter in character and couples well with The Dalmore Aged 15 Years

Rachael
I would say The Dalmore King Alexander III is my favourite, because it’s sweet, caramelly and fruity, which I love. It’s the perfect dram to share with friends for a special occasion. My favourite way to drink it is neat in a Copita glass and sometimes I'll add a few drops of water which can open the flavours a bit.

I do love a cocktail, but when it comes to a whisky like The Dalmore, I prefer it neat, in its true form.

What first got you interested in the world of whisky?

Rachael
I wasn't particularly interested in whisky before I started working at The Dalmore, but I've really grown to love it. When I first joined, we had a virtual tasting while we were all working from home and at the time I couldn't tell the difference between the various expressions from their taste, but now I can.

It's been really rewarding to go from knowing absolutely nothing about Scotch whisky - and not even liking it that much - to developing a real appreciation for it and now I’ve got several bottles in my cupboard at home.

Graham
Back in the mid-2000s, I worked at a wine merchant in Glasgow, where I was given the task of making the whisky side of the business more profitable. At the time, I knew enough about whisky to sell it, but little beyond that. So, I took myself off to various distilleries to learn more about Single Malt Scotch whisky and I was instantly hooked.

A couple of years later, I moved to Whistler in Canada to work at the Four Seasons Resort. At the time, the whisky selection at the bar was limited to just a few blended whiskies, so I set about introducing eight new Scotch Single Malts. By the time I left, whisky had become the bar’s third-largest selling category. That ignited a new level of passion in me and confirmed that this was the industry I wanted to be in.

How did you come to work at The Dalmore?

Rachael
Having lived in Alness all my life, I've always known The Dalmore and remember visiting the distillery on a school trip when I was younger. So, when the Experience Host position became available, it felt like the perfect opportunity. I joined in September 2025 while the distillery was still undergoing its transformation ahead of reopening. I love working with people and I’m a great conversationalist, so I felt this job would be something I would really enjoy, and I do!

Graham
After returning from Canada, I completed my university degree and then joined Whyte & Mackay’s On-Trade team in Edinburgh. From there, I worked across several areas in Sales, including specialist and travel retail, and was promoted to be an area director, responsible for markets across southern and central Europe.

Four years ago, I moved to the north of Scotland for a change of pace and when the role of Distillery Ambassador at The Dalmore came up, I applied for it and got the job, and like Rachael, I joined in September 2025.

What is your favourite room at the distillery?

Rachael
My favourite is the Kiln Room because it’s just such an impressive space. It used to be the place where we malted our barley long ago but now it’s been transformed into a stunning space that our guests get to see at the beginning of the experience.

Graham
Mine is a close one between the Stillhouse and the Mash & Tun Room. I love the Mash & Tun Room because, from the lily pad (viewing platform), guests get an incredible view of the five-metre height of the washbacks. Not many distilleries have that.

Are there any moments in the experience for the guests that are unexpected?

Graham
Yes, I think it’s the Archive Room. Our guests are currently welcomed with our Royal Stag cocktail created exclusively for The Dalmore by Dean and Nancy - the iconic cocktail bar in Sydney, Australia.

As they enjoy these, they begin a journey of storytelling and history, surrounded by remarkable artefacts that help bring the story of The Dalmore to life.

Rachael
One of my favourite moments is when guests re-enter the Kiln Room and see our beautiful stag-shaped light installation. Most people don't realise what they're looking at until we point it out, and their reaction is always great. It's a lovely surprise that brings The Dalmore Experience to a memorable close, uncovering a detail they would never have seen from the ground floor.

How do you ensure that every visit feels personal and meaningful to our guests?

Graham
When our guests book an experience with us, they’ll receive a phone call a few weeks before their visit. We’ll ask if they would like to personalise any of their whiskies, and we’ll offer tips on accommodation, lunch, or travel. That service makes it really personalised to everyone who comes to The Dalmore distillery.

Rachael
We make sure to find out as much as we can about their likes and requirements beforehand, checking things like dietary needs, how they're going to be arriving and where they're going to be staying. We can make sure that everything, from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave, is all tailored to them specifically.

What makes The Dalmore’s reimagined brand home a place worth travelling for?

Rachael
It’s worth travelling here because the guest experience at The Dalmore distillery is unique. It’s very hard to find a distillery that offers anything like it. The Dalmore Experience is completely private, so if you book with your partner for your anniversary, for instance, you’ll get the whole place to yourself.

Graham
For me, it’s the views. Crossing the Cromarty Bridge, you’re greeted by the Ben Wyvis mountain, then as you drive along the A9 road, you’ll see the Fyrish Monument which is 300 metres or so above sea level. When you arrive at the distillery, you get sweeping views across the Cromarty Firth to the Black Isle beyond. The views are just incredible here, and the experience and the tasting of rare whiskies makes it all worthwhile.

Do you think there's a difference to the distillery throughout the year, depending on the season?

Graham
Yes, in winter the temperature can be as low as -10°C. Although we don’t usually get snow at the distillery itself, we do get it on the surrounding hills, which looks beautiful. Inside, the temperature can be around 35-40°C, especially in the Stillhouse, so guests are going to be very glad that they’re inside during the wintertime.

Rachael
In the summer, you look out of the windows and see sunshine, greenery and the blossoms on the trees. In winter, the distillery feels more like a cosy home. We don't change the interior with the seasons, but the changing landscape outside seems to change the atmosphere inside.

What do you hope that every guest carries with them when they leave the experience?

Graham
I’d like our guests to leave with a greater sense of The Dalmore, having gained a deeper understanding of the attention to detail that goes into every stage of the whisky-making process. For them to have an appreciation of what makes our whisky so special and unique, would be amazing.

Rachael
When they arrive, we’d like our guests to feel like they’re coming to the home of a friend - they’re coming in for a drink, a chat, some storytelling and some fun, so we want them to leave feeling relaxed and that they've been really looked after.

Our Makers series continues soon, as we explore more of the people, places and moments that shape the world of The Dalmore. To see previous editions of the Our Makers series, including Experience Hosts Erin and Rob and Distillery Manager Mark, please see the Our World section of The Dalmore website.

If you would like to book The Dalmore Experience, reservations are now open for 2027, with a limited number of visits remaining for 2026. We warmly encourage early booking to secure a preferred date. Please visit Distillery Experiences to book.