Chivas Brothers – the Scotch whisky business owned by Pernod Ricard – has announced that Sandy Hyslop will be retiring from his role as master blender after more than 40 years in the industry.
Kevin Balmforth, who has worked at Chivas Brothers for 25 years, will move into the role of master blender.
At the same time, Hyslop will be named master blender emeritus, from which position he will support a seamless transition.
Hyslop joined the whisky industry in 1983 with a role at Stewart & Son of Dundee. Since then, he has worked on brands including Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal and Royal Salute.
Chivas Brothers said that Hyslop has “an unparalleled knowledge of the business’ whiskies, establishing himself as one of the most highly respected figures in the industry.”
It continued that he was instrumental in developing products such as Royal Salute’s Polo and Fashion expressions, the Chivas Regal Extra Range, The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve, Ballantine’s 7 Years Old and more.
Hyslop said: “It’s been a real honour and a privilege to contribute to the quality, innovation and heritage of Chivas Brothers alongside my team. For me, the joy of whisky making lies in pushing boundaries – uncovering new flavours and expressions that invite new audiences in, whilst staying true to Scotch’s legacy.
“Whisky has an incredible ability to bring people together, creating shared moments and connections across generations. Passing on the craft of blending is part of that same tradition. It has been the passion of a lifetime to teach and develop my team to continue that work. It is with great pride and confidence that I pass this privilege onto Kevin, who I have worked with for 20 years.”
Balmforth added: “It’s an incredible honour to follow in Sandy’s footsteps as Chivas Brothers’ master blender. I’ve had the privilege of learning from one of the industry’s true masters, and I’m committed to building on his legacy by exploring new dimensions of flavour while staying true to the heritage that makes our whiskies so distinctive.”
