Allan Bartlett, cooper at Tomatin Distillery, has been awarded ‘Cooper of the Year’ at the 2025 Icons of Whisky Awards, recognizing his expertise in barrel craftsmanship and whisky maturation.
With 21 years at Tomatin, Allan trained under Iain Duthie, the distillery’s former head cooper of 39 years. After winning ‘Cooper of the Year for Scotland’, he advanced to claim the global title, becoming only the third-ever winner of this prestigious award.
Tomatin is one of just four distilleries in Scotland with an on-site cooperage, allowing for in-house cask repairs and direct collaborations with wineries, breweries, and distilleries to source high-quality barrels for maturation. Since joining Tomatin, Allan has worked on over 37,000 casks, ensuring the distillery maintains its reputation for exceptional Highland single malt.
Allan expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating: “Coopering is a traditional craft that takes years to master, and I’m honored to help preserve this essential part of Scotch whisky heritage.”
The Icons of Whisky Awards, organized by Whisky Magazine, celebrate the industry’s top talent. More details can be found at tomatin.com.
