The independent panel of prominent members of the IWSC were unanimous in selecting David for the award, recognising his long and distinguished career and the fact he has still retained a creative "edge" after a lifetime of service.

It's always interesting to hear directly from the men who actually produce and nurture our whisky, and our long-serving craftsmen have many interesting - and humorous! - stories to tell. Here, retired cooper Derek Spark and warehouse team leader Eric Stephen talk to whisky writer Gavin D Smith.

It's the people who make the whisky by Gavin D Smith

For dedicated and discerning imbibers the minutiae of new single malt whisky releases is very important. Age, strength and cask provenance all matter. But ultimately, whisky is about people. The people who spend their working lives transforming a field of barley into a drink in a bottle.

The coopers and warehousemen are some of the unsung heroes of the Scotch whisky industry, and here retired cooper Derek Spark and warehouse team leader Eric Stephen tell their stories...