The World’s Best Whiskey Blenders—According To The Top Spirits Competitions

Blending isn’t merely an important step in whiskey production, it’s the step lifting the endeavor into the realm of art form. The traditional practice involves taking carefully matured casks of liquid and combining them into a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Every barrel matures in its own distinct way, even when sourced from the same distillation run. Blending susses out and amplifies desired flavor profiles. It also establishes balance and consistency, which is why the overwhelming majority of contemporary whiskies are crafted in batches—whether single malt, blended scotch, bourbon, or rye.

It’s tempting to overemphasize—or romanticize, even—the role of distillation, with its shiny copper pots, precise cut points, sacred grain recipes passed down through the ages. All of this matters in the final product, to be sure. But the truth, from Scotland to Japan, Ireland to Australia, and everywhere in between, is that distillation arms you with the paint. Blending is what you do with it on the canvas.

Of course, not all painters are created equal. It’s very much the same in this particular style of art. Here’s a list of some of the most talented names in the whiskey blending game today, according to awards collected at the world’s top spirits competitions.

Stephanie Macleod — Director of Blending, Bacardi (John Dewar & Sons)

Overseeing operations for one of the world’s top-selling blended scotches since 2006, Macleod long ago cemented her status as an industry icon. During her tenure, the Dewar’s label has amassed more top medals than you could fit into even the largest of trophy cabinets. But that’s just one small snippet of her lore. Six years ago she launched the Double Double series, helping bring the blended category more esteem amongst aficionados who long-overlooked it in favor of single malt. And she’s no slouch when it comes to that style, either—with the Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Royal Brackla and Craigellachie brands all benefiting from significant glow-ups over the past decade. In 2019 she was duly rewarded for her efforts at the International Whisky Competition, earning honor as “Master Blender of the Year.” She would then go on to win that same decoration for the next five years in a row; an unprecedented feat.

Dr. Rachel Barrie — Master Blender, The GlenDronach, Benriach, and Glenglassaugh scotch whiskies

Whisky Hall of Fame member since 2019, the esteemed doctor boasts more than 30 years of experience in scotch. During that time it’s estimated that she has sampled from nearly 200,000 casks worth of liquid. In 2020, The Glendronach 15—which she assembles from a stock of single malt matured exclusively in Pedro Ximénez and oloroso sherry casks—was named Best In Show at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In total, the three brands she oversees have picked up more than two dozen gold medals from that prestigious annual judging, including a Best Single Malt Scotch honor last year for the 21-year-old Glendronach. For her contributions to the craft, she holds an honorary doctorate in science from the University of Edinburgh.

Dr. Emma Walker — Master Blender, Johnnie Walker

Long before she became the first female master blender for the world’s top-selling scotch brand, Emma Walker was winning distinction as a healthcare scientist. She applies that same degree of meticulous care and unflinching craft into her whisky duties. Over the past 4 years, the label has picked up gold at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards (for Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year Old), top prize at the 2023 Trophy Spirits Show for Blue Label, and Double Gold for Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. With a last name that makes the job seem like a birthright (although there’s no relation) she has worked diligently to add to the success and mystique the label has built over its 205-year history. Most recently that involved the opening of the Johnnie Walker Vault program, a luxury platform where die-hard—and deep-pocketed—fans can work directly with Dr. Walker to craft their own bespoke blends.

Dr. Bill Lumsden — Head of Distilling & Whisky Creation, The Glenmorangie and Ardbeg

One of the most prominent personalities in all of scotch whisky, Dr. Bill—as he is affectionately known—first joined Glenmorangie in 1995. He has served as head of distilling and whisky creation for both that Highland distillery as well as Ardbeg on Islay for more than 25 years. It’s not hyperbole to suggest that his work with those respective liquids helped reshape the image of single malt as a luxury good in the 21st century. In 2016 the roasted-malt-based Signet expression he conceived for Glenmorangie was named “Whisky of the Year” at the International Whisky Competition. At Ardbeg he has demonstrated the ability to win acclaim working with either extra-aged or younger stocks: both the 5-year-old Wee Beastie as well as the 25-Year-Old single malt from the distillery have won “Best In Show” at the New York World Spirits Competition. After being named “Master Blender of the Year” in 2015 and 2018 at the International Spirits Challenge, he became the first person to ever win the coveted honor twice. Earlier this year he was named Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the Scotch whisky industry.

Shinji Fukuyo — Chief Blender, House of Suntory

The 2024 “Master Blender of the Year” at the International Spirits Challenge has been working with Japan’s most lionized whisky house for over 40 years. His impact on the industry is immeasurable. In 2009 he was named Chief Blender, only the 5th in Suntory’s 102-year-history. Since then, he has presided over perhaps the most meteoric rise of a category ever observed in the spirits world. It all blew up with a mighty bang, after the 2013 Yamazaki Sherry Cask unseated its scotch rivals to become named the best in the planet, according to the 2014 Whisky Bible. In addition to the Yamazaki distillery, Shinji’s role puts him in charge of the Hakashu distillery along with the Hibiki label—now regarded as one of the premiere blended whiskies on shelves. Hakashu 25 Year Old won the title of World’s Best Whisky at the 2018 and 2020 World Whiskies Awards. Hibiki has also fared well at that competition; both its 21 and 30-year-old expressions have taken turns as “World’s Best Blended Whisky.” In 2021, Drinks International named Yamazaki the most admired distillery on the planet. And earlier this year, at the 2025 International Spirits Challenge, his Yamazaki 18 Year Old was named Supreme Champion Spirit, the top honor in the entire competition.

Brent Elliot — Master Distiller, Four Roses Distillery

Although his official title is “master distiller,” Elliott’s day-to-day duties actually has him acting much more like a blender. That’s because at Four Roses, a total of ten different bourbon recipes are set into barrel—a permutation of two different mashbills against five proprietary yeast strains. It is his job to oversee those unique liquids in order to come away with small batch offerings of heightened complexity and precise nuance. Of course he also has to use keen sensory observation to insure that he’s achieving consistency where and when he wants it. He relies on a background in chemistry to achieve his art with scientific rigor. The same year he took over the lead role at the revered Kentucky distillery, Four Roses was named the American Whisky Distillery of the Year at the 2015 Icons of Whisky Awards. A year later he won Overall Best Bourbon at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2019, it was Gold Medal for taste at the World Whiskies Awards for Small Batch, which again won the honor at the same competition in 2024.

Andrea Wilson — Master of Maturation, Michter’s Whiskey

Wilson assumed her current role at Michter’s just over a decade ago and in the interim the brand has risen the ranks to become one of the most acclaimed American whiskies, ever. It’s not an overstatement. In fact, the distillery has been named “World’s Most Admired Whiskey” by Drinks International for three years running — an unprecedented feat. The lofty status of its top shelf offerings, including robust-yet-balanced 20- and 25-year bourbons as well as the shimmering elegance of Celebration Sour Mash has helped solidify the halo effect. Wilson’s expertise is vital: not only does she nurture these liquids in the cask, sidestepping the potential over-oaked pitfalls inherent to extra-matured American whisky; she also has final say, signing off on the exacting blends that compose these vaunted bottlings.

Jay Bradley — Founder, Master Blender, Craft Irish Whiskey Company

When Bradley first introduced Craft Irish Whiskey Company in 2018, he mined distinction in a crowded category by focusing on micro-blending and finishing, with a near-obsessive level of detail; from wood provenance to molecular tasting panels. Formerly an award-winning chef, Bradley treats blending much like haute couture. This means limited runs, hand-selected casks, and curated sensory experiences which wouldn’t feel out of place alongside Michelin star cuisine. In 2022 he took home the prize for “World’s Best Irish Single Malt” at the World Whiskies Awards for The Devil’s Keep, the first time ever that an inaugural release was bestowed the top industry honor. In the years since, he has accrued one of the most impressive competition records in modern whiskey: across 59 international taste awards, his whiskeys have earned Gold medals a staggering 38 times. That’s top honors for nearly 2/3rds of the total expressions he has ever entered.