I took a chance on the whisky industry and I haven’t looked back

Zoey Darnbrough admits that only a few years ago she was unaware of a whisky distillery near her hometown in the south of Scotland. Today she has moved quickly from being a tour guide to the role of group tourism and events coordinator at Annandale Distillery, just outside Annan. After completing a degree in heritage and tourism at Stirling, she chose to return to Dumfries and Galloway for work, rather than following many of her peers elsewhere.

Now 26, a former pupil of St Joseph’s College in Dumfries, Darnbrough has been nominated as a “rising star” at the South of Scotland Thistle Awards. Her path was not straightforward; disappointing exam results led her to a stint in the kitchens of Dumfries Infirmary. When a vacancy opened at Annandale Distillery she seized the opportunity, recalling her first reaction: “There’s a distillery in Annan? And then whisky? I thought I’d give it a chance and see what it was like because there’s a lot of heritage in whisky.” She has now spent three and a half years at the distillery and says she has not looked back.

The revived Annandale site, which closed in 1919 and reopened 90 years later, recently celebrated its first 10‑year‑old malt. Darnbrough points out that property prices in the region are far lower than in the cities, a factor she believes many of her generation overlook. “The south of Scotland has so much heritage and it is a passion of mine,” she says. “I want to be somewhere that lets me grow while surrounded by history.”

She also stresses the need to keep young people from moving away. “We could go back to local schools and explain that there are careers in heritage and tourism,” she suggests. Darnbrough believes the area is under‑promoted, noting the abundance of castles, scenery, attractions and accommodation. “We have everything the Highlands have, but in a quieter setting, and we can turn that quietness into a strength,” she adds.

Despite occasional doubts about being taken seriously alongside older, male colleagues, Darnbrough says preparation has helped her handle any challenging questions. “It has been tricky, I’m not going to lie, but if you prepare well those questions cannot faze you,” she explains. While she has mostly experienced support, she understands the difficulties others face and wants to shift perceptions “one woman at a time.”

For now, Darnbrough intends to stay in Dumfries and Galloway. “I’m only beginning to stick my teeth into the south of Scotland,” she says. “Leaving would have to be a fairly big jump.”