Isle of Raasay distillery owner R&B Distillers has announced the appointment of William Dobbie as managing director. Dobbie has been commercial director of the company for four years.

He takes over from Bill Dobbie, his father, who steps into the position of chairman. Bill Dobbie co-founded R&B Distillers in 2014 with Alasdair Day.

Bill Dobbie said: “William has helped drive double-digit revenue growth at over 20 per cent per annum during his four years as commercial director, and R&B’s board was unanimous in its decision to give him the opportunity to lead the company’s next phase of growth. We have continued to see solid growth in the UK and internationally over the last few years, including during what was a challenging year for the industry in 2023, and are excited by our prospects to build sales in existing and new markets over the next decade.”

R&B owns the Isle of Raasay Distillery, which opened in 2017 and has since released gin and single malt whisky. It now plans to launch the Machrihanish Distillery near Campbeltown in the next 12–18 months, subject to planning permission.

William Dobbie added: “The whole team deserves so much credit for our success to date, and our 10-year vision is centred on taking the business to the next level, increasing our international presence in lucrative markets like North America and Asia.

“While the high end of the whisky market has come under pressure over the last year, we have managed to significantly increase sales, grow a loyal customer base and brand in the face of industry headwinds.”

Image: William (left) and Bill Dobbie.