James Evans

Brand Manager for Kingsbarns Distillery

Hello! I’m James, the Brand Manager for Kingsbarns. My love for whisky began when I turned 18 years old and my mum booked me on a WSET level 2 in Wines and Spirits course at the Tennent’s Academy in Glasgow. I was the only one asked to show ID on arrival as they announced loudly “you’re the one whose mum booked them on the course, right?”…mortified.

After I passed the course, I knew I had found my true passion in spirits. So, I set my sights on finding work in the drinks industry, even basing my university dissertation on “Whisky Consumerism”. I got my first taste of the industry working for a marketing agency in Edinburgh that specialised in alcoholic drinks brands and later managing the marketing campaigns team for a well-known online spirits retailer.

I had admired the Kingsbarns brand from afar, appreciating their dedication to the craft and the way their quality spirit characteristics shine throughout their various cask expressions. Being given the opportunity to join the Kingsbarns team at a very exciting time of their growth was an absolute no-brainer for me. I very much look forward to championing the brand and introducing new customers and markets to our delicious whisky.

My favourite serve will change depending on the situation. Typically, I stick to a neat pour with a few drops of water when required. When the weather is warm (about 1 week a year in Scotland), I do enjoy a whisky and ginger combo, served with plenty of ice.

I have tried several Kingsbarns single cask releases as well as our current core offerings, Dream to Dram and Balcomie. My favourite of the core whiskies has to be the light, fruity and ridiculously sippable Dream to Dram. But, if you can get hold of one I would highly recommend trying one of our ex-peated barrel expressions for something quite different from our usual offerings.