Billy Walker is in a contemplative spirit. One of the whisky industry’s most notable names, his influence across the Scotch landscape can’t be understated. Known for his shrewd, prophetic ability to identify opportunities, alongside his sensory instinctiveness, he is widely regarded as an industry elder. Inducted into Whisky Magazine’s prestigious Hall of Fame in February 2021, Walker has the air of someone who just quietly gets on with the task at hand, the less ceremony the better. But today, as we speak on the phone to reflect on his 50 years in Scotch, he seems softer somehow.
“I just wake up in the morning and think how blessed I am to be able to actually play with whisky,” he says, chuckling when I ask him how he thinks his peers view him. “Quality is everything for me and for the team.” It’s a philosophy that has served him well, from his first whisky role as an analyst at Chivas Brothers-owned Hiram Walker in 1972, right up to acquiring and running his own distilleries from 2004 onwards. This includes GlenAllachie, his most prominent venture today. His approach has opened doors, brought people together, and defined the character of some of
