Take Five - Danielle Murphy

Danielle Murphy 

Sales Manager, Specialist Retail, Ian Macleod Distillers 

Working as a croupier on cruise ships in her early 20s, Danielle met people from all over the world. When they found out she was from Scotland, they all asked the same thing: “You must like whisky.” 

 Scotch wasn’t on Danielle’s radar at the time, but she resolved to find out more about it and a Thai barman on board introduced her to some malts. Gradually, uncovering the history and stories behind the brands, Danielle was hooked.  

She began in spirits sales and progressed from there, becoming more and more engrossed in the stories and history behind some of the world’s most iconic whisky brands. Headhunted for a new role at Ian Macleod Distillers in 2011, she became part of a small team.  

 “I wanted to learn as much as I possibly could about Scotch Whisky,” says Danielle. “So I booked myself on courses, worked at distilleries and even did a few shifts at the Pot Still pub in Glasgow. They sell more than 700 whiskies there, so I was keen to see how they guided customers to the perfect dram. It was one of the best learning opportunities I have had.” 

 “When I started at Ian Macleod, we only had a couple of brands, but now we have a lot more in the portfolio, so the team has grown and the stories are more diverse.  

 “I firmly believe that if you can get a customer into your distillery, then you will have a representative for life. It’s a great thing to have in our ‘sales toolkit’ and most people are blown away by the whole experience. 

 “I am bursting with pride at becoming a Keeper. I have wanted this for some years now and I am so honoured to finally be recognised for my achievements in the industry.”