THE entrepreneur who founded World Whisky Day is joining Uisge Source, which specialises in sourcing spring waters to accompany drams, to lead the company's growth in the Far East.
Blair Bowman, 25, passed over the running of the World Whisky Day project to drinks magazine Hot Rum Cow earlier this year, having come up with the idea when he was a student at the University of Aberdeen. The first annual World Whisky Day event was held in 2012.
As international business development manager at Uisge Source, Mandarin speaker Mr Bowman will focus on growth of the brand in Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Uisge Source was founded by Graeme Lindsay, former director of marketing with The Glenmorangie Company.
Its spring waters come from private sources close to some popular distilleries in various whisky regions of Scotland. They are marketed to complement the whiskies distilled in these regions.
Uisge Source's offerings include a water with higher natural acidity from the Ardilistry Spring on Islay, and a hard water rich in minerals from St Colman's Well in Ross-shire for Highland malts. They also include a soft water low in minerals from the Cairngorms Well, one of the highest natural mountain springs in Scotland near the Speyside distilleries.
The company said it was enjoying "accelerated growth" in markets at home and overseas.
Its products are marketed in 100-millilitre glass bottles, which contain enough water to accompany several drams. They are sold by specialist drinks retailers, bars, department stores, restaurants, luxury goods outlets, whisky societies, distillery visitor centres, and duty-free shops. The spring waters are also available online.
Uisge Source's waters are already sold in 15 countries including Sweden, France, Canada, Vietnam, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and Finland.
The company is also producing a special water for Aberfeldy Distillery. This is drawn from the distillery's own water supply, the Pitilie Burn.
Mr Lindsay said: "We are delighted that Blair is joining Uisge Source. He has already made a name for himself as an enterprising and knowledgeable whisky expert and I am confident that his experience will be invaluable as he introduces Uisge Source to new markets."
Mr Bowman said: "I am delighted to be joining Uisge Source at this important time, with the chance to build momentum for this new product concept."
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