Warehouse Keeper

Definition
A warehouse manager is an employee at a whisky distillery with overall responsibility for the warehouses and cask management. The role includes storage, tracking, and maintenance of casks throughout the aging period.

Responsibilities

• Warehouse operations and storage: Ensure proper conditions in the warehouses, including temperature, humidity and ventilation, and that casks are stored in suitable frames or sections tailored to the distillery's needs.

• Cask management and aging: Register, label, and track casks; monitor age and content; plan re-racking, topping-up, and transfers to ensure consistent development of color and flavor.

• Inventory and documentation: Maintain warehouse lists, cask numbers, fill levels and movements between storage areas; document sampling patterns and warehouse withdrawals for blending or bottling.

• Quality and safety: Ensure traceability, protect against theft and damage, comply with fire safety and insurance requirements; perform periodic inspections and maintain equipment and facilities.

• Collaboration and procedures: Coordinate with production, quality control, purchasing and management for timely access to casks and updates to SOPs (standard operating procedures).

Warehouses and infrastructure

• Warehouse design: Warehouses are often divided into sections or rooms for cask storage with relevant requirements for temperature, humidity and ventilation.

• Cask management and identification: Each cask is labeled with identification, volume, fill level and age; data are recorded in warehouse management systems for tracking.

Skills and working conditions

• Accuracy, systematic approach and physical stamina for long-term storage.

• Knowledge of cask aging processes and the distillery's style(s).

• Experience with warehouse management systems, record-keeping and quality assurance.

• Working conditions: May be physically demanding and involve work in dusty environments; requires ability to work with detailed data and long timeframes.

Development and career

• Can advance to warehouse manager or a leadership role in storage and distribution, depending on the distillery's size and structure.