Cardrona Distillery celebrates a milestone 10th birthday on Wednesday, Nov. 5, marking a decade of crafting single malt spirits in the Cardrona Valley. This anniversary coincides with a leadership change that positions the business for its next chapter of international growth.

Desiree Reid, Founder and Managing Director, is moving into the role of Global Sales Director with International Beverage, relocating to Scotland to focus on driving global growth for all International Beverage brands. 

Henry Caulton, Cardrona Distillery Chief Financial Officer since 2022, will take over from Reid, moving into the role of Acting Managing Director. Caulton is a fully qualified Chartered Accountant and brings to the role extensive strategic and financial experience to guide the next decade of growth. 

Caulton’s leadership has been instrumental in securing Cardrona Distillery’s long-term future with International Beverage, positioning Cardrona alongside some of the world’s most respected spirits brands.

Honoring a Founder’s Vision

“Desiree founded Cardrona Distillery with the dream of creating a single malt whisky that would stand tall on the world stage. In only a decade, she has achieved that and more,” Caulton said in a news release. “I’m honored to be taking the reins from such an inspiring founder and look forward to the next decade as we continue to bring a touch of Cardrona magic to the world.”

Master Distiller Sarah Elsom now has full responsibility for all production and operations. Elsom continues to honor Reid’s founding vision by crafting world-class spirits that speak to their raw ingredients and to the environment in which they are forged.

“It has been an incredible experience working alongside Desiree over the past ten years to build Cardrona Distillery into what it is today,” Elsom said. “As we celebrate our 10th birthday, we feel immense pride in all we’ve accomplished and excitement for what lies ahead as we continue to bring our extraordinary spirits to the world stage.”

A Decade of Spirits

To mark the anniversary, Cardrona Distillery will host a private celebration, bringing together private cask owners from around the world to honor those who believed in Reid’s dream from the very beginning. Looking ahead, 2026 will see the highly anticipated release of Cardrona Distillery’s first 10-year-old single malt whisky, alongside the launch of an ambitious expansion project that includes new whisky warehousing, cellar door, and restaurant at the distillery’s home in the beautiful Cardrona Valley.

Read more: Cardrona Distillery Chooses Hotaling & Co. as U.S. Importer

About Cardrona Distillery

Founded in 2015, Cardrona Distillery is the result of a dream realized by founder Desiree Reid. Her desire to craft a New Zealand single malt whisky that would stand tall on the world stage involved a near three-year odyssey of global travel and tutelage from renowned whisky experts. Today, Cardrona Distillery is celebrated for its dedication to traditional methods, sustainability, and quality, offering single malt whisky, vodka, gin, and liqueurs made using traditional thinking and local ingredients. All bottling, labelling, and packaging is done by hand on site. Visit www.cardronadistillery.com to learn more about the distillery and its spirits.