Wild Scotsman Whisky

Happy Birthday John McDougall

Posted Aug 2, 2008 by The Wild Scotsman

A lot of people enjoy whisky, however, very few actually get to know the ‘real people’ behind the brands (many times they do not exist). We are force fed big corporate images of people who are supposed to be important or alleged experts, however, when one digs just under the surface we find, Frauds. Tartan dolls reading the corporate bible. Today, may I introduce you all to a man who is not a fraud, a tartan doll, a self pro claimed expert, or well you get the idea.

Today is John McDougall’ s Birthday and he is one of a very small group of people who still can remember how it should be done and not how it is done today in regards to the production of traditional hand crafted scotch malt whisky. Below is just a small in sight to what this man has experienced in his life time. I say small as he continues today sharing his knowlege with those who aspire to achieve. One such group is Box Distillery in Sweden. Well as John always says, “Tasting is better than Telling” so here is a small resume of a Scotch Giant:

General ManagementGeneral Policy
Production
Business Planning
Purchasing
Budgetary Management
Personnel Policy
Sales / Marketing
Industrial Relations
Trade Union Negotiations
Customer Service
Public Relations
Trouble Shooting

A self motivated executive who has held many senior positions in the Scotch Whisky Industry and progressed from trainee to General Manager of the largest operational site in a major group.

Produced real cost savings after turning operation round in 4 years following extensive modernisation and environmental programme.

Following this employment, joined one of the very few genuinely privately owned Distilling Companies remaining in the industry and contributed to the financial transformation of that Company.

Currently self employed as a consultant, whisky broker, whisky bottler and writer.

1996 – 2007 Consultant, Whisky Bottler, Writer & Raconteur

Operating own Consultancy and Whisky Bottling business on a national and international level,

Developed and successfully launched own brand of bottled Malt Scotch Whisky
“The John McDougall Whisky Life Series” Single Malt Scotch Whiskies of his personal choice, because he is drinker of the best malts himself!! This line has now been discontinued
Also another of his selected bottling series is “Golden Cask” – Single cask, single malts and usually at cask strength. These bottlings are sold in several markets around the world.

“John McDougall’s Selection” bottling of Single malt, Single cask at cask strength, Lowland Bladnoch, authorised by the owners of Bladnoch Distillery was launched in early 2004. This most exciting of opportunities is beginning to show good progress especially in the United States. The range is now in process of being expanded in to bottlings from the other distilling regions.

John has contributed in no small measure to moving 10,000 bottles last financial year into world wide markets from a Zero presence (in fact his first order came from Japan late in 2002, and was for 36 bottles!) since embarking as an Independent Bottler of the Finest Malt Scotch Whiskies. Quite an achievement on a Truly “shoe string” budget!

He is always in great demand around the world as a whisky authority and raconteur, and has published his memoirs from the Stillhouse in his highly acclaimed book “Wort, Worms & washbacks” He currently has several other writing projects on the stocks.

1986 – 1996 General Manager/Director – Springbank Distillery Campbeltown

Dimensions of Job

• 1 Traditional Floor Maltings
• 1 Malt Distillery with annual capacity of 750,000 Litres of Alcohol
• 6 Whisky maturing Warehouses with capacity in excess of 2.0 m Litres of Alcohol
• 2 Bottling Plants – 1 for Whisky, the other for non Whisky Spirits such as Rum, Gin and  Vodka
• 7 Salaried Staff
• 14 Hourly Paid Staff

Responsible for the following:

• Buying of raw materials such as Barley, Malt, Yeast, empty casks, all dry goods for bottling operations
• Re-establishing and subsequently Managing traditional Floor Maltings – this included the re-furbishment of an almost derelict stone building using our own labour -
• Training of staff to operate this facility was successfully undertaken prior to re-start of this operation.
• To manage distillery, warehouses and bottling plant producing top quality New Spirit to standard established by the Board and also bottling and packaging mature Whisky to the highest standard befitting this high value product and at maximum cost efficiency.

Formal Budgetary Controls were not practiced in this small Family owned Company but each item of non routine expenditure had of necessity to be approved by the Managing Director who was, in effect, the owner of the Company. During his tenure, the Company was successfully turned round from a loss making situation, to one producing healthy profits.

Long John International Ltd (Whitbread) – Scotch Whisky Distillers

1981 – 1985 GENERAL MANAGER

Warehousing, Blending, Vatting, Bottling, Packaging and Distribution Complex
- Westthorn, London Road, Glasgow.

Scale of Operation

• Largest complex within Scotch Industry
• 100 acre (40 hectare) site
• 22 maturing whisky warehouses – capacity: 500,000 barrels
• 320 staff
• Management training and development
• Management of administration – including servicing of 150 markets
• £200m plus, asset value
• £1.5 billion plus, value of maturing stocks.

Responsibilities

• Optimum profitability of operation
• Business development
• New product development and launch
• Security
• All plant and buildings
• All types of negotiations
• Monitor budgetary operations – £16m annual budget
• Compliance with all government and local authority regulations
• Compliance with Health & Safety at Work Act and Food and Drink Hygiene
• Regulations
• Public Relations

Achievements included

Conducted world wide investigation into new plant requirements to meet marketing needs. Recommendation for capital investment of £1.5m accepted. The equipment was purchased and installed within target date. Profit contribution increased: investment was recovered in 2 years and was on going.

Resultant Ongoing Annual Saving: £900,000

• Completely new harmonised agreement accepted by all employees
• Successful introduction of shorter working time, with no loss of efficiency.
• Introduction of direct transfer payments.
• Introduction of monthly payment to hourly paid employees
• Upgraded plant environment – completely transformed
• Successfully represented company in public relations.

All improvements effected were of a major nature in an industry which had been slow to recognise the need for change. The programme, which was radical and ambitious, was achieved without industrial unrest.

1977 – 1981 Quality Assurance Manager/Blender Based London Road Glasgow

The quality assurance function supplied a service to the company falling into three distinct areas:-

1. Quality Control
2. Chemical Laboratory Services
3. Research & Development

Direct Reportees

• 13 managers and technicians plus managers of 3 Malt Distilleries;
• Ensured that all specifications were matched for materials received and finished goods despatched.
• A programme of research and development was initiated and implemented.

Scale of Operation Monitored by Quality Assurance Manager

• 5 Distilleries – 3 Malt Distilleries plus 1 Grain Distillery and 1 Gin Distillery
• 1 Malting Plant
• 1 By – Product Plant
• 1 Effluent Disposal Plant
• 1 Blending Lab
• 1 x 7 line bottling hall

Raw Materials for distilleries

• Dry goods for bottling operations

Processes

• Final Products
• Laboratory Results
• Reporting
• Meeting all Chemical Parameters
• Warehousing at 5 Locations – Capacity: 650,000 barrels.

Essential Responsibilities were:

1. To establish QC standards
2. To recommend operating techniques
3. To monitor UK and licensed overseas operations
4. To investigate and deal with customer complaints.

Other Important Responsibilities

1. Chairman, Long John International Scientific Group
2. Member, Long John International Fuel Study Group
3. Member, Whitbread (Parent Company) QC Committee.

.

Achievements included

• The establishment of tighter materials specifications
• The establishment of tighter finished product specifications
• The production of new quality assurance manual Specs
• Tightened up on discipline of suppliers, result:

Annual Ongoing Savings of £300,000

1974 – 1977 Manager, Tormore Malt Distillery Speyside

1970 – 1974 Manager, Laphroaig Malt Distillery Isle of Islay

Manager ship of these isolated plants entailed custodianship of small estates – a few hundred acres. All malt spirit production, warehousing operations, and maintenance of all plant and buildings – including dwelling houses – was my direct responsibility.

Achievements, Tormore – Location Speyside

• 14.2% output improvement in 3 years.
• Outstanding environmental problem solved – this was crucial; under threat of closure by local authority
• Major landscaping project – made this a showpiece plant for international visitors.

Tormore Distillery is unique as it was the first completely new distillery to be built in Scotland this century.

Achievements, Laphroaig – Location Isle of Islay (Inner Hebrides)

• 12.0% output improvement in 4 years
• Landscaping project achieved in areas previously deemed impossible.
• Planned and implemented construction of water storage dam with capacity of 23m litres – this project carried out using local contractors.
• Planned systematic demolition and rebuilding project; no production lost and distillery capacity doubled – extremely difficult to manage on this remote island.
• Despite insular and “laid back” attitudes, motivated work force and cut costs by 20.0% in 4 years.
• Public relations; extensive exposure on television, films and radio.

Both operations successfully turned round as follows:

Tormore: Annual Ongoing Cost Savings of £265,000
Laphroaig: Annual Ongoing Cost Savings of £280,000