Our People

For The Gin Cooperative, great Scottish Gin is in equal measure about the people as it is the actual gin. Our exclusive ‘Our People’ editorial feature series finds out what life is like working for a Scottish Gin business. The distiller, the brand ambassador, the social media manager, the office admin, the handyman, the cooper, the shop assistant, the delivery driver and more. It’s these dedicated, passionate and hardworking people we will meet over the course of the series that will hopefully give you a little insight into what working for a Scottish Gin business is really like.

Next in the series features some of the team from GlenWyvis Distillery, the home of GoodWill Scottish Gin. Established in the highland town of Dingwall, the name of the distillery is a nod to the lost distilleries from the area, Ben Wyvis and Glenskiach, both whisky distilleries. A community owned distillery with over 3,500 shareholders from around the world, the distillery is completely self-sufficient utilising a variety of renewable and green technologies to power their whisky, gin and spirit making. We caught up with some of the team to learn more about life in the distillery and business.

Duncan Tait, Distillery Manager

Responsibilities

I have overall responsibility for all staff on site, compliance with all regulatory bodies and the production of high quality whisky and gin.

What does a typical day look like?

A typical day will start by getting the boiler fired and producing steam for the processes. Whilst this is happening, I get time to go through emails, look at sales performance, company accounts along with inspection and preparation of casks for filling. Once pressure is achieved we will start mashing and distillation for whisky and may carry out a botanical soak, gin distillation, water distillation or gin reduction to bottling strength (depending on the day of the week).

What’s the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is producing high quality spirits for consumption, whilst knowing that future profits from these spirits will be reinvested into community projects and leave the area with a lasting legacy.

What is unique about your place of work?

GlenWyvis Distillery is a Community Benefit Society. The project was completely crowdfunded and has over 3,500 members throughout the world. All production carried out on site is powered by renewable energies. Our electricity is produced from Solar Panels, a Wind Turbine and Hydro Scheme and the steam is produced from a Woodchip Fired (Biomass) Boiler.

Josh Fraser, Office Manager

Responsibilities 

I manage and oversee all of our office admin, investor relations, day to day finance and logistics. But Office Manager is a very varied role and as a small team we all help out where and when we can.

What does a typical day look like?

There isn’t such a thing as a typical day here – no two days are the same. But I usually begin with checking through our website orders and getting them shipped out to our customers across the world. I also try to work my way through my emails in the morning before more start to pile in! Most days also see me catching up with Michael on sales, liaising with our suppliers, helping plan our social media and keeping on top of our finance and paperwork.

What’s the best part of your job?

I have been at GlenWyvis since it was just a grass field. So for me it has been amazing to see it come from nothing to now a fully functional dual distillery with our own gin on the market. I can’ wait until we also have our single malt for sale!

What is unique about your place of work?

Our whole story makes us very unique! Having over 3,500 people involved in the project is fantastic and has made it the success that it has been to date.

Craig MacRitchie, Distillery Production Assistant

Responsibilities

Overseeing production of whisky and gin alongside the Distillery Manager, ensuring spirit quality and efficient production levels. Helping with tasting events when required as well as some sales. In a small company everyone has to muck in when needed!

What does a typical day look like?

I am a great believer there is no such thing as a typical day especially working here at GlenWyvis! I start at 8 in the morning alongside Distillery Manager Duncan and get the stills set up for the day. Depending on what day it is we will also begin mashing. I will then keep an eye over the various aspects of production and report to Duncan if any issues arise freeing him up for other tasks. I also help out at tasting events and contribute towards sales and tours when needed. I have been lucky enough to have been involved in most aspects within the company at one point or another.

What’s the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is being able to work in an industry I have been passionate about most of my life following in my Grandfather’s steps and to work for a company whose morals and values match my own. I have been fortunate enough to have been involved with GlenWyvis Distillery since it was an idea back in 2015 and seeing it now as a distillery in full production of high quality gin and whisky spirit is truly amazing for me.

What is unique about your place of work?

Working for a company which is fully community-owned as well as renewably powered brings a really positive atmosphere to the place which makes it somewhere you look forward to coming to in the morning.

Michael Fraser, Business Development Manager

Responsibilities

It’s my pleasure to bring GoodWill Gin to life through storytelling. I make sure our partners are stocked up, bars are ‘gend up’ and consumers are sharing the GoodWill. 

What does a typical day look like?

Two days are never the same. One day I could be meeting with various bars whilst other days welcoming customers on our pop up stalls up and down the country. I think many people in the gin industry will say the same.

What’s the best part of your job?

Best part of the job is seeing a product come from nothing to national listings. 

What is unique about your place of work?

We are cooperatively owned by over 3,500 people, however we are not open for tours so barely any of the owners have seen their distillery! Hopefully one day we will rectify that!

You can learn more about GlenWyvis here.