Stuart Watts has over 20 years' experience as a business leader with specialisms across the manufacturing arena in distilling. Passionate about Whisk(e)y and spirits production, Stuart has a proven track record of end-to-end performance.

He originally trained at Glasgow University where he completed his BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry, before carrying out a PhD in Distillation Flavour & Science from Heriot-Watt University.

Stuart has been working as the Distilleries Director at William Grant & Sons Ltd since 2021, where he leads the supply of all liquids into the supply chain, alongside the longer term development of capabilities for the global distilling and technical functions.

He is currently the Chairman of the Scotch Whisky Research Institute. In 2019 he was made a Keeper of the Quaich. He is also had a long association with the Institute, having worked as the Chair of the Scottish section from 2021 to 2023.