Lisa Matthews, who was Scotland’s youngest head brewer when joining Harviestoun Brewery, has reached another landmark by becoming the first female distiller at Bruichladdich.

Matthews has joined the Islay distillery as its first female distiller and said she hopes such an appointment would be considered normal going forward.

She explained: “I’d love the day when appointing a woman as a distiller isn’t considered unusual – it should simply be about the right person getting the opportunity, but representation matters.

“When I first worked at Bruichladdich, I didn’t really see women in production roles, so becoming part of that change is something I’m incredibly proud of.”

Lisa Matthews, launched her brewing career at Harviestoun in June 2018 after completing an MSc (Hons) Brewing and Distilling at Heriot Watt University. She has promoted to junior brewer shortly after.

She would create a number of recipes include her debut, Heaven Cent. Heaven Cent took its name and aroma from the ‘centennial’ hop. It was described as a perfectly balanced IPA with “beautiful fruity aromas and a citrus tang”.

Matthews added: “I actually developed a palate for beer and gin long before whisky.

“It was only after working in distilleries, spending time in warehouses and talking to people who were passionate about whisky every day that I really fell in love with it.”