Mark Kent | The Future of Scotch Whisky - And Why It’s Under Threat

This Episode Was Made In Partnership With The Scotch Whisky Association.

Check out our 2023 Audio Special with them here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-future-of-scotch-whisky/id1535212212?i=1000596306265

Scotch whisky isn’t just a drink - it’s Britain’s biggest food and drink export, powering over 40,000 UK jobs.

But now it’s under threat.

Mark Kent, CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association and former British ambassador, warns that rising taxes, global tariffs, and climate pressures could derail one of the UK’s most powerful industries.

In this episode, he reveals:

🇮🇳 Why India could transform Scotch’s future - if the new trade deal holds

💸 How government tax hikes are already costing thousands of jobs

🌍 Why Scotch matters for Britain’s global influence — from soft power to diplomacy

🤖 And how AI and climate change could reshape the industry forever

Chapters

00:00 Scotch Whisky in India

01:39 Inside the Prime Minister’s Trade Trip

03:10 How Big Is the Scotch Industry?

08:23 Why Whisky Matters to the UK Economy

10:50 Tariffs, Taxes & The Laffer Curve

23:18 Climate Change Is Already Hitting Distilleries

26:55 The Art of Influence and Diplomacy

29:17 From Lincolnshire to Ambassador

33:32 Language, Culture & Soft Power

37:37 What Ambassadors Actually Do

44:20 Will AI Disrupt Whisky?

46:15 Quickfire Round

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Credits:

Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE

Producer: Sunny Winter https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnywinter/

Junior Producer: Thuy

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