At the very heart of a distillery lies the sample room. Its contents contain the sum of the entire distilleries manufacturing experience in maturing and bottling single malt and blended Scotch Whiskies. Samples exist to provide a quality benchmark for current production and to help inform and shape future decision-making with improving product quality and product development.

As a Sample Room Assistant, you will be responsible for supporting the Sample Room Team in all activities associated with Sample Room operations, including controlling all samples that come in and out of the sample rom and managing sample stock and equipment.

Some of the best performing people in The Scotch Whisky industry started their careers in the sample room. The role gives you valuable insight into the operations of the distillery and the many processes required in the production of single malt and blended whiskies including vatting, bottling, lab sample, inventory, and cask testing.

As a Sample Room Assistant, your main duties and responsibilities include:

• Providing administrative support to the Whisky Making Team including diary management, hosting distillery guests
• Administering and managing the product library and upkeep of operational sample inventory, often using bulk stock management systems to maintain records.
• Completing the paperwork needed for sampling and tanker deliveries.
• Allocating stock to vatting operations
• Preparation of samples for the nosing process
• Grading of casks to be used in vatting operations for future refill use and ongoing scanning of cask samples and batches into an electronic Duty Free Sample System.

, provided the opportunity to work alongside the Stock co-ordinator and Whisky Making Team to develop an understanding of maturation and flavour development in whisky.
• Due to the nature of this split role, excellent self-management was critical to ensuring all tasks for each department were undertaken on time and to the highest level possible.

Skills, experience and qualifications

The role of Sample Room Assistant provides an opportunity to work alongside multiple disciplines within a distillery including Inventory Management and Whisky Making Teams; providing an insight into understanding the maturation and flavour development in whisky. To be successful you will ideally:

• You will need to demonstrate an experience of flavour assessment and their interaction in blending, along with good nosing and tasting skills.
• Have a knowledge of cask handling and warehouse systems and functions such as Whisky stock analysis.
• Have experience in planning, scheduling and organisational skills.
• Ideally, be qualified in a food science, chemistry, or Brewing & Distilling.
• High levels of self-motivation and personal discipline
• Excellent administration and organisational skills
• Understand HSE legislation and have a knowledge of Dangerous Goods Transportation
• A driver’s licence and forklift truck experience would be useful, as would a love of whisky!
• Demonstrate that you are computer literate, analytical and competent in the use of excel and data analysis to support the production of reports.
• Have excellent communication skills and the ability to work within a team.
• Become a Custodian of the brand representing the distillery at industry events and in wider communication opportunities.

Institute of Brewing and Distilling
Tel: 020 7499 8144
Website: http://www.ibd.org.uk
Twitter: @IBDHQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IBDHQ

National Skills Academy for Food and Drink
Tel: 0330 174 1253
E-mail: info@nsafd.co.uk
Website: http://nsafd.co.uk
Twitter: @NSAFD

Scotland Food and Drink
Tel: 0131 335 0940
Website: http://www.foodanddrink.scot
Twitter: @scotfooddrink
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scotfooddrink