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Zoey Darnbrough Rises From Tour Guide at Annandale Distillery

The Dumfries and Galloway graduate who had never heard of the Annan distillery now leads its group tourism and events work

By AXY Business Desk ·

Reporting via BBC Business
Reporting via BBC Business (BBC Business)

Key points

Zoey Darnbrough, 26, has risen quickly from tour guide to group tourism and events co-ordinator at Annandale Distillery near Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, southern Scotland. She told BBC Business that only a few years ago she did not know a whisky distillery existed near her hometown. Her account, based on an interview with the broadcaster, shows how a local production site can become a career path for someone who had never considered the whisky industry.

From Unexpected Discovery to Distillery Career

Darnbrough went away to study heritage and tourism in Stirling after leaving school, but unlike many of her peers she returned to Dumfries and Galloway for work. She attended St Joseph’s College in Dumfries. She has said her route was not straightforward: she did not get the exam results she had hoped for, so she spent time working in the kitchens at Dumfries Infirmary before a role at the distillery came up.

Her first reaction to the job, she said, was surprise. “My first thought was - there’s a distillery in Annan? And my second thought was - whisky?” she said. “I thought I’d give it a chance and see what it was like because there’s a lot of heritage when it comes to whisky.” She has now been at the site for three and a half years and says she has “not looked back”.

Her progression, from front-line tour guide to a role covering group tourism and events, reflects a common pattern in visitor-facing businesses. Staff who learn the product and the stories behind it by leading tours often move into roles that manage bookings, groups and special occasions. Her experience of guiding visitors is likely to be valuable in those roles, because it gives her direct knowledge of what visitors want to hear and see.

Why Annandale Distillery Has a Local Story to Tell

According to the BBC report, Annandale Distillery shut in 1919 and reopened 90 years later. Closures of this kind were common across Scottish whisky in the early twentieth century, and many sites that stopped production were later revived, rebuilt or repurposed. The reopening of a distillery in a rural region can carry economic weight beyond the production line, because it can bring jobs, visitors and a local identity back into focus.

For readers unfamiliar with the sector, Scotch whisky is a legally defined product. It must be distilled and matured in Scotland and aged in oak casks for at least three years. The industry is spread across Scotland’s Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Islay and other regions, and the Lowlands, where Annandale sits, is home to a smaller number of working distilleries than some other areas. A site that opens in a lesser-known region can therefore stand out, both to tourists and to local people who may have passed by without knowing what was inside.

Darnbrough’s own reaction illustrates this point. Her surprise at discovering a distillery in Annan shows how even residents can overlook a local business, especially when the operation is not part of their daily routine. Raising awareness among local people is one of the ways distilleries can build long-term support, both as visitor destinations and as employers.

Scotch Whisky, Tourism and Local Jobs

Whisky distilleries across Scotland have increasingly developed visitor experiences, including guided tours, tastings and events. These activities can generate income that is separate from the sale of bottles, and they help producers connect with customers who may later buy their products. Analysts who follow drinks businesses often point to this type of visitor economy as a way for producers to diversify, particularly when wider spirits markets are unpredictable.

In practice, this means that jobs at a distillery are not limited to production. Roles in guiding, hospitality, bookings and event planning are important parts of the operation. Group tourism, a term for organised visits by coaches, clubs, companies or other collective groups, and events, such as private functions or corporate hire, are areas where a dedicated co-ordinator can shape how the site earns revenue and reaches new audiences. Darnbrough’s role sits at the centre of that work.

The move also reflects a broader change in how whisky is presented to the public. Historically, the industry was often associated with a narrow image of older male drinkers. Efforts to attract a wider audience, including women and younger people, have become more visible across the sector. Darnbrough has framed her own goal in these terms, saying she hopes to play her part in changing people’s opinions of the world of whisky “one woman at a time”.

Why Regional Careers Matter in Southern Scotland

Dumfries and Galloway is a largely rural region in the south-west of Scotland. For young people growing up in rural areas, the choice between staying local and moving to larger cities for study or work can be difficult. Many leave after school and do not return, and employers in smaller towns often report challenges in recruiting people with the right skills. Darnbrough’s decision to study away and then return to her home area is one example of a different path.

Her story also highlights the value of locally based visitor businesses. A distillery can offer skilled, year-round employment in a place where other opportunities may be limited, and staff who understand both the product and the community can help link visitors with the surrounding area. Analysts who study rural economies argue that tourism and food and drink production can help keep young people in their home regions, although the scale of that effect depends on wages, career progression and the availability of housing and transport.

Darnbrough’s account suggests that her route into the industry was not planned. Her early work in the kitchens at Dumfries Infirmary, a hospital in Dumfries, was a step away from tourism and whisky, yet it was part of the experience that led her to the distillery. Employers often value that kind of varied background, especially in customer-facing roles.

Recognition and What Comes Next

Darnbrough was recently nominated for “rising star” recognition at the South of Scotland Thistle Awards, according to the BBC. Nominations of this kind give regional businesses and their staff public visibility, and they can help raise the profile of local employers. The outcome of the nomination was not reported in the source material, and it is not yet clear how the award process will conclude.

Looking ahead, several questions are worth watching. The first is whether Darnbrough’s progress becomes a template for other young people in the region, including those who have not considered careers in drinks or tourism. The second is how Annandale Distillery continues to develop its visitor and events offer, which could affect how many people from outside the area come to Annan. The third is whether other rural distilleries in Scotland report similar gains in local recruitment as they expand their visitor programmes.

For now, Darnbrough’s story is a clear example of how a single job decision can change a career. She began with a question about a distillery she had never heard of and has since built a role at its centre. Her experience also offers a practical reminder for employers and young people alike: a route into an industry does not always start with the subject you planned to study.

Topics: Annandale Distillery, Zoey Darnbrough, Scotch whisky, Dumfries and Galloway, Annan, Scottish tourism, South of Scotland Thistle Awards

Sources: BBC Business

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