Welcome to the Alumni Whisky Blog
Hello! Here, we’ll venture into the various nooks and crannies of the Scotch whisky industry and keep you up to date on events and developments in the world of Alumni Whisky. Consider us that cool pen pal from across the pond, the one that’s always had a deep love for all things Americana, the one that likes sitting in the back of the pub, listening to the fuzzy murmurs of Oasis and the Beatles while savoring special drams with good friends. We hope you’ll stick around and get to know our small team of six as we endeavor to share our love and passion for Scotch whisky to fans, friends, and alumni of America’s leading institutions. For now, join us, as we sit back and reflect on 2025, a very special year for us.
Doug's Dating Service
Oof, where do we begin? Well, let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. Back in 2010 I was offered the opportunity to pursue a work study experience in the Scotch whisky industry after my sophomore year at the University of Arkansas. Doug Ross, an industry veteran and who was, at the time, Managing Director of Tullibardine Distillery in the Highlands, had reluctantly agreed to take on an American student and teach her the ins and outs of the wondrous world of Scotch. After two weeks of traveling back and forth from Edinburgh to Tullibardine, Doug suggested that his son, James, also a US-based college student, could show me and my flat mates some of the Edinburgh nightlife. Well, the rest they say is history. We like to call it “Doug’s Dating Service” - little did he know I’d later become his daughter-in-law and give him the joy of his life, his granddaughter.
An Idea Worth Bottling
Fast forward several years and plenty of airmiles later, James and I decided to base ourselves in the Houston area after James finished playing golf for the University of Houston. Then one morning in 2019, Doug, who recognized Americans’ unique devotion to their alma mater and the passion with which they celebrated their college teams, asked an interesting question, “What if we introduce alumni in America to their very own Scotch whisky?” As the idea began to germinate, we realized Scotch whisky and the American college experience have a lot in common – legacy, history, a sense of place, and the unique ability to bring people together.
So, given our close ties to Houston, our longtime friend and the University of Houston Men’s Head Golf Coach, Jonathan Dismuke, was brought into the fray and championed the concept at UH. Andrew Morrison of the legendary Morrison Scotch whisky family, and current Managing Director of Clydeside Distillery in Glasgow, recognized the product’s potential and could logistically visualize a route to market through a longstanding relationship with California-based importer, Pacific Edge Wine & Spirits. Calum Leslie, an Edinburgh native with a knack for innovation, was also convinced to join the team. He spent a year attending the University of Texas and had recently worked for Loch Lomond Group as Head of Innovation. Having launched several brands, including Peat Reekers and Living Souls, Calum quickly brought the concept to life for the University of Houston release. Collectively, our own personal experiences at University of Arkansas, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, Michigan State University, Auburn University, and University of Texas have given us a keen understanding of the loyalty and sense of identity shared among alumni in America. With half of the team based in Scotland and the other half in Houston, we’d like to think we have the best of both worlds – haggis and hotdogs are not too dissimilar after all!
Sharing the First Pour
It took more than five years before our inaugural release hit Texas retail stores in June 2025, but as they say in the Scotch whisky industry, “Good things take time.” The University of Houston bottle is the very first university-branded Scotch whisky in the nation, so we wanted it to look good and taste even better. Founded over 200 years ago, we looked to Linkwood Distillery for a smooth, lovable spirit that has all the best traits Scotch whisky has to offer. With aromas of apple and pear mingling with hints of toffee and spice, it embodies the same approachability found in the Houston Cougar family. Now our first-ever release is stocked in 48 Spec’s stores across Texas with additional e-commerce retailers shipping to over 40 states. So far, we have had a blast sharing it with the Coogs. Whether it was recruiting a UH Hilton College alumna to photograph our golf content shoot that featured real UH alumni (a few bottles ended up as casualties that day!), meeting so many wonderful whisky enthusiasts at the Houston Scotch Whisky Society Fall Gathering, or loudly cheering on the Coogs with the UH Alumni Association as they took on Texas Tech and TCU, we have had so much fun.
From Campus to Community
Together, we’re crafting a community for friends, fans, and alumni within the magical world of whisky. This isn’t just a drink, it’s an experience – Alumni Whisky is meant for celebrating life’s moments with those friends who feel more like family. It’s about old jokes, new memories, and belonging to something bigger. It’s about honoring shared spirits and time spent well. So, thank you to all those Linkwood Lovers out there for joining us on this journey of exploration – we’re looking forward to sharing several drams and a few laughs with you in 2026. Last year was a special one, but we’re just getting started and we can’t wait to see what lies ahead.
Cheers Y’all,
Meghan