Cara is new Tobermory Distillery manager – aged 27
One of world’s youngest distillery managers has been appointed to head up the 223-year-old Tobermory Distillery.
At only 27 years and 86 days old, Cara Gilbert, from Clackmannanshire, has been appointed to oversee the running of Tobermory Distillery, on the Isle of Mull. She’ll be responsible for production of more than a million litres of whisky and gin each year at the facility – founded in 1798.
After graduating from a Biological Science degree at Heriot Watt University in 2017, Cara quickly realised her career aspirations of teaching were overshadowed by a passion for biological engineering and manipulating micro-organisms into alcohol to help produce award-winning whisky and gin.
She went on to complete a Diploma followed by a master’s degree in Brewing and Distilling before heading across the Irish Sea to work in a distillery just outside of Dublin as a Process Support based in a lab. During her role, she looked at process improvements starting in the laboratory and upscaling from there.
Quickly realising she’d found her true calling, Cara secured a job at Bunnahabhain on the world-famous whisky island of Islay, refining her craft as a Process Lead.
In February this year she moved to the beautiful island of Mull and into the distillery, together with her partner, James and their dog, Caskie, for a secondment as a Process lead in the heart of Tobermory. She then moved up the ranks to assistant manager in March before this week earning a further promotion to Distillery Manager – less than five years since she first started working in the sector.
Cara said: ‘It’s an honour to be given the opportunity take on this role, helping to etch the next chapter for such a historic distillery.
‘In my head, I always knew I wanted to be in a managerial position before I was 30 and a combination of hard work, seizing every opportunity thrown my way and learning from the best has made this vision a reality.
Cara Gilbert on Tobermory
‘I’ve worked with so many inspirational people over the last five years and have joined an incredible team. Being able to create unbelievable malts, a range of island inspired gin and our more peated Ledaig brand means no two days will ever be the same – with the added benefits of living and working on this gorgeous island.
‘It’s been an incredible journey, but I know the best is yet to come.’
Cara will work under the guidance of master distiller, Brendan McCarron. Brendan said: ‘Cara’s absolutely bursting with talent, passion and knowledge about distilling so it’s incredible to watch her tick off another career milestone.
‘Whether its peated or unpeated malts, limited editions or an enticing range of gin, it’s the dream job for anyone and she’s going to do amazing things.’
Find out more about Tobermory Distillery at www.tobermorydistillery.com.
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