James Sneddon Swan
Born(1941-12-25)December 25, 1941
East Lothian, Scotland
DiedFebruary 14, 2017(2017-02-14) (aged 75)
EducationHeriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
Alma materHeriot-Watt University (PhD, BA)
Occupations
  • Biologist
  • Chemist
  • Whisky Consultant
Known for
    • Pioneer of the "Whisky flavor wheel" with Sheila Burtles
    • Research on Whisky production in hot climates

James Sneddon Swan (born December 25, 1941 – February 14, 2017 in East Lothian, Scotland.[1]) was a chemist, biologist, author, and expert on single malt whisky.

Referred to as the "Einstein of Whisky",[2] his research into whisky and its distillation process pioneered new methods of production. Swan demonstrated that it was possible to create good whisky despite being aged a short amount of time,[3] leading him to work alongside new whisky distilleries throughout the world as a consultant and expert.[4]

Following his scientific and technical contributions to the industry, the "Dr Jim Swan Award For Services To Scotch Whisky" award was posthumously named after him.[5]

Education and professional life

In 1965, Swan received a bachelor's degree in applied chemistry from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. In 1988, he graduated from the same university with a PhD in chemistry and biological sciences.[6] His PhD focused on the subject of wood extractives in relation to the maturation of scotch whisky.[7]

As a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, he was an expert on gas chromatography. He was a founding member of the scientific team at Jim Gray and Eric Dewar at Inveresk Research International, since 1974 the Pentlands Scotch Whisky Research Ltd and Scotch Whisky Research Institute (SWRI). In the SWRI, Swan managed research programmes, funded by the European Union and the United Kingdom.[6] In 1979, research by Swan and co-researcher Sheila Burtles led to the creation and publication of the first whisky flavour wheel.[2][8][9] The flavour wheel serves as an industry standard for sensory evaluation of whisky.[10][11]

He was also a member of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.[6]

Swan researched how hot climates affected the whisky fermenting, distillation, and aging process, and how to work around factors affected by warm climates, such as alcohol oxidation or angel's share.[12]

In 2002, he founded the Dr James Swan food and drink consultancy. Prior to this, he was a partner in the Tatlock & Thompson consultancy.[4]

Due to his understanding and impact on the whisky industry, he has been called monikers such as the Einstein of whisky,[2][9] The Single Malt Whisperer[13][14] or the ultimate whisky troubleshooter.[1][9]

Activities

Swan worked as a consultant, blender and master distiller for distilleries around the world and played a role in the design of their distillation process. He contributed to the distilleries:

Published academic papers

  • James S. Swan et al. .: Sensory and instrumental studies of scotch whisky flavor. In: The Quality of Foods and Beverages. Academic Press, 1981, ISBN 0-12-816681-9 , pp. 201–223.
  • D. Howie, JS Swan: Compounds influencing peatiness in scotch paints whisky flavor. In: Lalli Nykänen, Pekka Lehtonen (Ed.): Flavor Research of Alcoholic Beverages. 1984, ISBN 951-95852-2-2, pp. 279–290.
  • James S. Swan: Maturation of Potable Spirits. In: G. Charalambous (Ed.): Handbook of Food and Beverage Stability. Academic Press, 1986, ISBN 0-12-169070-9 , pp. 801–833.
  • James Sneddon Swan: Wood extractives in relation to the maturation of scotch whisky. PhD thesis. Heriot-Watt University, 1988, OCLC 499922686 .
  • JS Swan et al. .: A study of the effects of air and kiln drying of cooperage oakwood. In: Élaboration et connaissance des spiritueux. 1993, ISBN 2-87777-357-4 , pp. 557–561.

Awards

Awards attributed personally to Swan include:

1993 - Institute of Brewing & Distilling's Fellowship[6]

2005 - Whisky Advocate's "Pioneer of The Year" Award[6]

2017 - Scottish Whisky Awards' "The Dr. Jim Swan Award for Services to Scotch Whisky (awarded post-mortem, with the award named after him).[5][24]

Distilleries he contributed to have won World Whisky of the Year awards, Artisian Whisky of the Year awards, Islay Whisky of the Year award, and Microdistillery Whisky of the Year award.[6]

Personal life

Swan's family consisted of his wife Thelma, and his daughters, Caroline and Victoria.[25]

References

  1. 1 2 "Whisky legend Dr Jim Swan dies | Scotch Whisky". scotchwhisky.com. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  2. 1 2 3 "Whisky Pioneers: Dr Jim Swan's incredible whisky legacy". Whisky Foundation. 2017-05-23. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  3. ↑ "A Highly Effective Person - Working With Dr Jim Swan". Organic Architects. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
  4. 1 2 "Jim Swan, Ph.D.: 1941-2017 | WhiskyCast". whiskycast.com. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
  5. 1 2 "The Dr Jim Swan Award for Services to Scotch Whisky". KD Media. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Remembering Dr. Jim Swan". Whisky Advocate. 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  7. ↑ Swan, James Sneddon (1988). Wood extractives in relation to the maturation of scotch whisky (Ph.D. thesis). Heriot-Watt University. hdl:10399/1967.
  8. ↑ jack (2017-07-17). "How to use a whisky taste chart to improve your whisky tasting". Whisky Foundation. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Obituary: Dr Jim Swan (1941-2017) | Scotch Whisky". scotchwhisky.com. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  10. ↑ "A Brief History of SWRI". Scotch Whisky Research Institute. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  11. ↑ "Tasting Wheel - Whisky Magazine". whiskymag.com. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  12. 1 2 Mossati, Corinne (2020-05-13). "Dr Jim Swan on Kavalan Whisky". Cocktails & Bars. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  13. ↑ "Episode 513: December 28, 2014 | WhiskyCast". whiskycast.com. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  14. ↑ "Canadian whisky: the chemistry is undeniable!". Alfred | Gestionnaire intelligent de cave à vin. 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  15. ↑ Distillery, Annandale. "Product Story". Annandale Distillery. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  16. ↑ Tours, Whisky (2018-06-26). "Jim Swan, The Whisky Man". Whisky Tours Scotland. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  17. ↑ "Clydeside | Scotch Whisky". scotchwhisky.com. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  18. ↑ Kalavan Distillery, Kalavan Distillery (5 October 2021). "About Kalavan".
  19. ↑ "M&H – Israel's first whisky distillery | M&H Whisky Distillery "No Compromise" section". mh-distillery.com. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  20. ↑ "Nc'nean Distillery: Organic and sustainable whisky". Nc'nean Distillery. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  21. ↑ "The Team". Penderyn. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  22. ↑ "Caledonian Whisky". Macaloney's Caledonian Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  23. ↑ "BATCH INFO: DR. JIM SWAN". Virginia Distillery Co. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  24. ↑ "Award created to posthumously honour whisky expert Jim Swan". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  25. ↑ "Obituary - James Swan, scientist and whisky expert". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
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