About Us (well, just me really)
Hi. My name is Ben Smith. That’s me in the photo just there. I’m the founder of WhiskyDispatch. Originally from the U.S., I now live in Scotland. My journey with whisky began in early 1990s when I got to have a Scotch sour (or two) at a family gathering. Fast forward to the early noughties, and a close friend introduced me to single malts. After enjoying an Oban 14 and Talisker 18, there was no turning back.
Over the years, I continued to educate my palate, casually buying and trying different whiskies while also rotating in my old favourites. It wasn’t until I moved to Scotland in late 2016 that I considered turning my passion into a profession.
Launching WhiskyDispatch.com has been a long and winding road, made possible only through the help I’ve received from friends and family along the way. One such friend lent me the time and expertise of the talented people at his software company to build the pricing intelligence tool I use to value whisky, and most recently, this very website. Another friend, my whisky mentor, hired me to work one day a week at the bottle shop he manages in St Andrews. My dearly-departed friend, the best licensing solicitor that ever lived, taught me about Scottish alcohol law and helped my business to become fully licensed. I’m also grateful to my accountants for their ongoing support in navigating the complexities and challenges of running a business in the U.K., as well as to the entrepreneurial owners of the building where WhiskyDispatch is located.
Most importantly, I am thankful to those who have supported my business with their purchases, whether for themselves or as gifts for friends, colleagues, and loved ones. Few things give me more joy than getting to know people’s tastes and playing a small role in helping them to find the whiskies they will love. I hope that you will find something on WhiskyDispatch that you will enjoy, and if I can be of service, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me through the Contact page.