On April 29, 2026, we had the privilege of hosting a delegation led by the The Ambassador of Denmark to China, Ambassador Michael Starbaek Christensen. He was supported by Trade Commission Member Jonas Bruntse Dahl Nielsen, Consul General Guangzhou Soren Bindesboll, and the Senior Commercial Official in Guangzhou, Jane Cen. Additional from the Danish Chamber […]
Read MoreOn April 29, 2026, we had the privilege of hosting a delegation led by the The Ambassador of Denmark to China, Ambassador Michael Starbaek Christensen.
He was supported by Trade Commission Member Jonas Bruntse Dahl Nielsen, Consul General Guangzhou Soren Bindesboll, and the Senior Commercial Official in Guangzhou, Jane Cen.
Additional from the Danish Chamber of Commerce, a number of Danish business people led by Jan Laegaard Broni,. They included Thomas Molgaard, Mathias Uller Rothmann, Jamal Hajjaj, Michael Schjerbeck Jensen, and Mateusz Fokt. All of these Danish business representatives are also investors in Nine Rivers Distillery.
The visit was the celebrate both the involvement of Danish business people as investors in Nine Rivers Distillery, and additionally the fact that a significant percentage of the barley used at Nine Rivers Distillery is from Denmark.
Denmark’s mature modern agricultural industry, excellent barley quality, and stable supply system make it an ideal location for sourcing high-end barley for making world class whisky.
Our sincerest thanks to The Ambassador of Denmark to China, for his time and his presence!
[Longyan, China, 30 December 2022] Nine Rivers Distillery today announced that Stuart MacPherson, former Macallan Master of Wood, has been appointed as an advisor to the board of directors. MacPherson brings over 43 years of experience in oak barrels and spirit maturation, taking on the new role as Master of Wood, leading the Nine Rivers […]
Read More[Longyan, China, 30 December 2022] Nine Rivers Distillery today announced that Stuart MacPherson, former Macallan Master of Wood, has been appointed as an advisor to the board of directors. MacPherson brings over 43 years of experience in oak barrels and spirit maturation, taking on the new role as Master of Wood, leading the Nine Rivers Distillery cooperage project.
“It’s quite unique to see a distillery start-up taking such a wholistic approach to crafting whisky” remarked MacPherson, commenting on Nine Rivers Distillery’s decision to open a cooperage. “Very few distilleries take wood management so seriously, despite barrels being responsible for between 50% and 60% of the aromas and flavours of the final product. Oak barrels are so often treated as a commodity item to be sourced as cheaply as possible despite the fact that you just can’t make the best whisky unless you have the very best oak barrels”.
Nine Rivers Distillery CEO Jay Robertson, when speaking of Stuart MacPherson’s appointment, said “The fact that we have been able to secure Stuart to join 9RD is a testament to the team that we have put together to build and lead our project. We know what we want to achieve as a distillery and a cooperage led by one of the most experienced professionals in the industry was an absolute must have for us”
MacPherson’s career started off as an apprentice cooper back in 1979, at the Clyde Cooperage Company (owned by Edrington, making casks for Macallan). MacPherson rose through the ranks before becoming Cooperage Manager from 2001. MacPherson was appointed as Master of Wood at Macallan in 2012 and concurrently ran the operations in Spain, where Macallan work with cooperages and bodegas to source what are arguably the best sherry casks in the world.
Stuart MacPherson retired from Macallan in 2022 and continues to consult for a number of clients both in the UK and internationally.
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Neil Playfoot joins Nine Rivers
