Ardbeg appoints Bryony McNiven as distillery manager
Bryony McNiven will become Ardbeg’s first female distillery manager in nearly 200 years as of 1 January 2026.
McNiven, a native of Islay and the daughter of an Ardbeg stillman, has devoted her entire career to Ardbeg.
She follows in the footsteps of the sisters of Ardbeg’s founder, John Macdougall, Margaret and Flora, who were two of the first female distillers in Scotland in 1853.
Commenting on her new position, McNiven said: “Ardbeg has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’m thrilled to be taking the reins at a distillery that means so much to me and my family. Not only have I got some incredible female role models behind me in Flora and Margaret Macdougall, but I also have a fabulous team to work with.
“We are already hatching smoky schemes to bring even more exceptional Ardbegs to our fans. Watch this space.”
McNiven grew up just down the road from the distillery, where her father, Ruaraidh MacIntyre, worked as a key member of the production team for 35 years before retiring.
With a degree in chemistry from the University of Glasgow, she has previously served as the Ardbeg brand ambassador in Sweden and spent six years in Ardbeg’s whisky creation team in Edinburgh, working alongside director of whisky creation Dr Bill Lumsden and master blender Gillian Macdonald.
Since 2018, McNiven has worked as the distillery’s visitor centre planner and joined the Ardbeg Committee as co-chair earlier this year.
Caspar MacRae, president and CEO of Ardbeg, said: “I can’t think of anyone better than Bryony to take on the role of Ardbeg distillery manager – surely the peatiest position in single malt. Not only is Bryony an extraordinarily talented whisky expert and a passionate Ardbeggian, but she knows our brand better than almost anyone on the planet.
“I look forward to working closely with Bryony as we forge a fabulously smoky future for Ardbeg.”
In early September 2025, boutique hotel Ardbeg House opened its doors after a multi-million-pound transformation of the former Islay Hotel in Port Ellen.
Earlier this year, Ardbeg concluded its Anthology series with the release of its third and final expression, The Beithir’s Tale. It also unveiled the second single malt in its Vintage_Y2K series.
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