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.