WHYTE AND MACKAY

LOCATION

Glasgow, Scotland

RICHARD PATERSON

Paterson – nicknamed ‘the nose’ – has come to be one of the most revered Scotch whisky industry professionals after five decades in the industry. At the 2013 World Whisky Awards, Whisky Magazine bestowed Paterson with an Icons of Whisky Lifetime Achievement Award.

Paterson first learned about whisky making from grandfather, who founded a specialist blending, bottling and brokerage company in 1933. His father took over the firm in the 50s, teaching Paterson how to nose whisky when he was just eight-years-old. He embarked upon his whisky career as a general production assistant at A. Gilles & Company Whisky Blender & Brokers in Glasgow, before moving to Whyte & Mackay. Just five years later, at the age of 26, Paterson was promoted to the position of master blender.

In 2008, Paterson published his own book, titled Goodness Nose. He regularly writes for magazines such as the Financial Times How to Spend It, Whisky & Bourbon and The Huffington Post, and has also presented on TV channels across the globe, including CNBC in the US, Style TV in Russia and STV in the UK. He has also worked with the Benevolent Trust in Scotland, which strives to raise money and offer support to those who have worked in the drinks industry and have fallen into difficult circumstances.