Spear's Review

James Mackay has developed a deep knowledge of the luxury spirits sector over the past 30 years.

Most recently Mackay spent nearly a decade at Diageo, including as head of private client sales in Singapore, head of rare and exceptional spirits – where he helped to launch the Casks of Distinction programme – and global private client director.

He now serves as a rare whisky and spirits expert at MEUM, the advisory firm that offers legal, lifestyle and financial services under one roof. He also works as a commercial director for the Artisanal Spirits Company, the parent company of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

His focus on rare and collectable whisky has led him to meet some of the biggest players in the industry, allowing him to ‘understand clients from the inside’, he tells Spear’s. For him, ‘whisky is a passion asset class – it has to be fun’.