Wemyss Malts Wemyss Malts Masters the Art of Exceptional Blended Whisky
There’s a prevailing assumption in the Scotch industry that only single malt whiskies have the quality and character worthy of captivating serious whisky connoisseurs. Wemyss Malts has set out to challenge that long-held belief. As independent whisky curators, Wemyss Malts goes beyond the familiar territories of region, age, and finish to paint emotive pictures through flavor — each expression captivates the senses to leave a rich and lasting impression.
William Wemyss founded Wemyss Malts in 2005 and continues to run the company alongside his sister, Isabella, who serves as Production Director and Master Blender. Their family has lived in Fife, on Scotland’s East Coast, since the 12th century. The Wemyss’s connection to whisky, however, dates to the 19th century, when James Haig opened Cameronbridge Grain Distillery on land leased from Captain Wemyss. Though the Wemyss family didn’t craft the whisky themselves, the association launched a longtime passion for whisky that has finally come to fruition with the establishment of Wemyss Malts.
As William and Isabella learned the ropes in the spirits industry, they realized that, even for the knowledgeable consumer, much of the malt whisky terminology can be confusing. Aiming to make whisky more accessible, they set out to create a special range of handcrafted whiskies. Working alongside the Wemyss Malts Tasting Panel, which is led by famous writer and whisky expert Charlie MacLean, Isabella hand selects the finest whiskies from across Scotland’s renowned regions to create a beautiful portfolio of blended malt and single cask expressions. The team then names each Wemyss whisky based on its aromas and flavors, rather than the distiller, so whisky lovers can easily interpret the style it offers.
This revolutionary approach has earned the Wemyss Malts team over 100 industry accolades — including “Best Scotch Blended Malt” at the World Whiskies Awards, 90+ point scores from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, double-gold medals from San Francisco’s World Spirits Competition, and more. While the awards have raised Wemyss Malts’ profile, the team remains committed to its vision: practicing the art and science of exceptional, flavor-focused blended whiskies that every whisky lover can understand and enjoy.
Wemyss Malts Highlights
Run by brother-sister team William and Isabella Wemyss, Wemyss Malts is a small, family-owned whisky producer in Fife, Scotland.
Isabella and the Wemyss Malts Tasting Panel hand select the best casks from Scotland’s single malt distilleries and bring them together to create exceptional blended whiskies.
Each Wemyss whisky is named for its distinctive flavor profile, allowing consumers to easily identify its unique style.
Wemyss Malts have won over 100 awards from leading industry competitions and publications, including the World Whiskies Awards, Ultimate Spirits Challenge, and San Francisco’s World Spirits Competition.
An Ancient Family Seat in Fife, Scotland
For over 800 years, the Wemyss family has lived and thrived in Fife, on Scotland’s East Coast. The family name comes from the Scottish Gaelic “uaimh,” which means “cave,” and likely originated due to the location of Wemyss Castle, the family’s ancestral home and noble seat. The castle overlooks the coastline, sitting atop ancient caves formed into the sea cliffs. William and Isabella chose Wemyss Castle as the emblem for Wemyss Malts — it is their connection to the past and an icon for their whisky-making future.
Bringing Together Scotland’s Best Single Malt Whiskies
As whisky curators, the Wemyss Malts team tastes and explores the beautiful possibilities of flavors found across Scotland’s single malt distilleries and brings them together to create exceptional blended whiskies. The Tasting Panel, led by celebrated writer and whisky connoisseur Charlie MacLean, chooses every cask that goes into Wemyss whiskies. Their job is to ensure that each cask selected for bottling represents the best characteristics of its regional origins, whether it’s from the Highlands, Speyside, Islay, or anywhere in between. By blending these special casks, Isabella and her team create uniquely rich, distinctive whiskies focused purely on flavor experience.
Hand Selecting the Finest Casks for Wemyss Whisky
The act of blending single malt whiskies is indeed a blend in itself — of science and art, with technical precision counterbalanced by sensory instinct. Led by Charlie MacLean, the Tasting Panel chooses the best casks from across Scotland. This strict selection process limits the number of casks, allowing only those of the most exceptional quality to join the Wemyss Malts range. After the Tasting Panel has selected the casks, they then delve into the flavor profile to ensure the name given to each Wemyss single cask whisky reflects the unique aromas and flavors found within the bottle.
For Wemyss Malts’ flagship blended whiskies, Isabella chooses up to 16 different single malt whiskies and expertly blends them together. Then, the team introduces the signature malts, under her and Charlie’s guidance, to create the three distinct taste profiles: “spicy” (Spice King), “peaty” (Peat Chimney), and “honeyed” (The Hive).
Isabella Wemyss: Businesswoman & Master Blender
Working alongside her brother, William, who formally founded Wemyss Malts, Isabella Wemyss serves as Production Director and Master Blender. Prior to joining the spirits industry, she trained as a lawyer then entered the family’s tea growing business, where she had her first organoleptic training as a tea taster. At the Wemyss distillery, she oversees all aspects of whisky production, with her greatest talents lying in the finer details of maturation, quality control, and of course, blending. For her skill with crafting fine spirits, Isabella has become of one of the most respected and prominent women in the traditionally male-dominated whisky industry.
