For more than 25 years, Jackie Thomson has been a formative figure in the Ardbeg experience. Under her direction, visitors who come to the distillery are welcomed with a warm Islay hug and engaged in an experience like no other. You can find Thomson leading a delightful tasting or providing her endless wisdom on a tour. Without a doubt, the experience is made better from her own enthusiasm for the spirit and the brand.
Thomson’s career started with Glenmorangie in 1996. A fortuitous series of events led her to take the job as the visitor centre manager at their sister distiller Ardbeg in 1998. Her impressive resume also includes organizing the legendary Ardbeg Day for almost 20 years. It’s one of the most lauded days for the distillery and is the culmination of the Fèis Ìle festival. In all aspects of the distillery that she lends her talents to, Thomson’s special brand of magic drives success.
In 2021, she was appointed as the chair of the Ardbeg Committee which is the collective of ardent fans of the distillery. There are more than 140 committees on Islay, but the Ardbeg Committee is by far the largest, boasting a membership of 180,000 and growing. Thomson’s stewardship serves as a powerful beacon guiding people to Islay and right into the front doors of Ardbeg.
Please join us in celebrating Jackie Thomson, who is an engaging, fascinating, and influential woman in whiskey. The world of Ardbeg and whiskey in general is made better by her presence.
Why did you choose the spirits industry?
To be honest, I did not choose it, it chose me! I was working down in England and by virtue of a friend sending me our local newspaper from my hometown (the Inverness Courier) and seeing a job at our sister distillery, Glenmorangie, I took a leap of faith and applied for it because I wanted to get back to the Highlands where I was from. So, it was really down to geography and serendipity at the time!
What was your first job in the industry?
As visitor centre manager at Glenmorangie Distillery in 1996. I loved it instantly.
Who has influenced you the most in your career?
There are so many people within the industry whom I respect, admire, and have even been a little bewitched by. But my enduring regard has been for Hamish Torrie, now the Glenmorangie Company’s CSR Director. Hamish’s charisma and innate sense of understanding of Ardbeg in the early days after Glenmorangie purchased the distillery back in 1997 endure with me. He made Ardbeg fun, coupled with a very pure way of communicating the whisky and initiating incredible new bottlings. From The Peaty Path to Maturity, Alligator, Serendipity, Lord of the Isles – amongst others. He has always felt like a steadying influence on much of my decision making.
What is your favorite part of your current role?
People. Every day is different and I could have a meeting with my team in the morning, converse with 25 Ardbeg lovers of different nationalities during a day, have an agency call about a new initiative, an interview with a journalist, organise an event for the local community, meet with the brand team, and conduct a tour or tasting for bartenders from across the globe. All in a day’s march!
What is your current favorite pour?
Wee Emma’s Smokin’ Apples cocktail is a firm favorite for me for the summer. She is a member of the team who makes crowd-pleasing cocktails for the visitor centre. Delish!
