Lora Hemy

Head Distiller at Roe & Co Irish whiskey

With a creative background that has drawn her to combine interests in flavour, aroma, sensory perception and distilled beverages; particularly as a distiller and product development specialist with a focus on innovation. An alumni of the prestigious Heriot-Watt University Lora has spent time working and researching in several countries and is currently utilising her wide skill set at the Roe & Co Distillery.

She has worked with distillation at volume production scale and for smaller craft distilleries, including assisting with plant design and product development, production planning and site specification (Atom Brands & Halewood Wines and Spirits). There is also that glorious feature in a BBC documentary about the whisky industry.

Lora has visited many, many distilleries, breweries, wineries and perfumeries in a range of markets across Europe and worldwide including New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Afghanistan and Iran. Travel and research are central to her understanding of plant and product
development.

Special interests include whisky blending, sensory perception and networking, fermentation engineering and distilled beverage technology, production, and development. That said she is equally comfortable presenting to an audience and spreading her enthusiasm for world spirits. When she is not creating or researching
spirits, she has a love of coffee and records.