Whisky Voices: Gordon Dundas

This interview is part of my ongoing “Whisky Voices” series, where I sit down with leading voices in the whisky world, from distillers and writers to ambassadors and innovators, to capture their unfiltered thoughts on heroes, villains, surprises, trends, and wishes.

This time around I have spoken with Gordon Dundas, Global Brand Ambassador at Ian MacLeod Distillers, the family-owned Scotch whisky company behind Tamdhu, Glengoyne, and the iconic rebirth of Rosebank. A veteran voice in whisky, Gordon shared his candid thoughts on the state of the industry and what excites (and frustrates) him most.

Whisky Hero

For Gordon, two names stand above the rest: Michael Jackson and Dave Broom. “I had the opportunity to work with Michael when I was with Whisky Magazine,” he recalled. “I spent a couple of years working with him. And Dave Broom as well, both of those guys are heroes to me.”

Two titans of whisky writing, both instrumental in shaping how we understand and communicate the story of whisky.

Whisky Villain

This was a straightforward answer for Gordon, and a frustration shared by many in the industry. “Cask companies,” he said. “People who’ve been selling casks but not doing it the right way. Just jumping on the bandwagon, saying the “right words”, all smoke and mirrors. Trying to make money without doing the right thing. That really annoys me. It damages our industry.”

The rise of speculative cask schemes is one of the more troubling developments in modern whisky, and Gordon’s warning is clear: short-term greed risks long-term trust.

Whisky Surprise

For Gordon, the biggest surprise isn’t a single whisky, it’s the scale of whisky’s growth around the world.

“It’s not so much a surprise as it is a pleasant surprise,” he said. “The rise of whisky globally. Seeing more distilleries everywhere. At this show, in Australia, across Europe. I mean there are 200-odd distilleries in Australia alone. It’s ultimately great for whisky. It’s a wonderful surprise.”

A reminder of just how far whisky’s reach now extends, and how vibrant and diverse the industry has become.

Whisky Trend

If Gordon could see one trend truly take off, it would be the rise of the whisky highball.

“If I could ask for one trend to be adopted at the level it should be, it’s the highball,” he said. “I’d love the highball to be as popular as it deserves to be. I want people to associate whisky with the highball far more than just wondering if they should drink it straight or not. If the whisky highball became the drink of the world, I’d be delighted.”

It’s a vision shared by several brand ambassadors today, and one that could open whisky to a whole new generation of drinkers.

Whisky Wish

Gordon’s whisky wish is deeply personal and tied to one of the industry’s most anticipated revivals. “Personally, I’d love to see a new Rosebank on the market,” he said. “I think we’re about six years away, but to see Rosebank back in its new form would be amazing. The newmake is fabulous. I can’t wait.”

A new era for one of Lowland Scotland’s most revered names is on the horizon, and few are as excited as Gordon to see it return.

Gordon Dundas embodies the spirit of a whisky ambassador; passionate, knowledgeable, and deeply connected to both tradition and the future. Always great to meet up with him, and I wish it would be more often.

Sláinte!
- Thomas