Dr. Jim Swan
Master Blender, Penderyn

Jim Swan has been involved with the Welsh Whisky Company since it began distilling and is their Master Blender charged with creating the unique style of Penderyn single malt. He is a consultant to the World-wide drinks industry and assists the quality aims of Blue Chip brewers, winemakers and distillers as well as several small producers in 5 continents.

After graduating from the Heriot-Watt University in Chemistry he later gained a PhD in Chemistry and Biological Sciences from the same University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and was awarded Fellowship of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. His particular areas of expertise include maturation in oak casks, product quality, distillation and blending. He has undertaken training courses on sensory evaluation of drinks and has managed UK Government and EU research programmes worth over £3M. He is the author of numerous scientific papers and has taken part in TV and radio broadcasts into spirits quality. He is a panel chairman judge at the International Wine and Spirits Competition.