Inside the Cask is my personal website, 100% by Andre de Almeida.
It reflects my experience as a drinks industry ‘insider’, an executive with experience of working across different retail environments and extensive global travel through work and on a personal basis. On the Inside the Cask website, I share my insights, knowledge, jobs and my passion for the drinks industry with others.
These days, I am a consultant, writer and blogger who helps drinks brands to develop and execute business strategies across different markets and channels. I have worked with leading companies such as William Grant & Sons, Maxxium/ Edrington, and Loch Lomond Group, as well as emerging brands such as The Secret Garden Distillery.
I have also had the privilege of being selected as a jury member for prestigious awards such as the Spirits Selection by CMB (Belgium 2021, Guadeloupe 2022, Italy 2023, China 2024, Mexico 2025) and the Scottish Whisky Awards (2024, 2025, 2026).
All views on the Inside the Cask website are my own and may not necessarily reflect the views of my employer. Others quoted were used for context only.
I decided to start writing blogs and sharing my own personal views relating to the drinks industry, experience working across retail and travel in June 2015. Since then I have received great feedback and this website is an extension of that idea.
Over the past 22 years, I’ve accumulated a vast amount of working experience across different sectors: Premium Wine & Spirits, Foodservice Wholesale & Grocery, after initially representing students at the University of Glasgow. In terms of Education, I have been awarded an Honours degree in Biotechnology from the University of Glasgow and an MBA from the Warwick University Business School.
I have been trained in different areas, most recently having achieved the WSET Level 3 Award in Spirits (QCF) with a Pass with Merit. I also have undertaken the INSEAD Leadership & Change Management, Sales training, retail environment training, financial analysis and data understanding, negotiation skills, advanced communication skills, training others/ coaching skills, teamwork effectiveness and leadership skills.
My professional experience is available on LinkedIn.
Outside of work, I can reveal that I am Brazilian-Portuguese, with a hint of British, loving life, the family and fanatical about Gremio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense! Drinker of Scotch whisky and other whiskies, Rum and Gin amongst other drinks…
Please subscribe to the Inside the Cask website for job updates, share your comments, give me feedback and get in touch if you want to exchange ideas.
March 2026 was a special occasion as I attended the Keepers of the Quaich Banquet at Blair Castle and was both proud and humbled to have been inducted as a keeper, as recognition for my contribution to Scotch whisky.
For more information on my personal background, please see the following:
- blog entitled ‘Meet the Brazilian Scotch whisky specialist Andre de Almeida’
- blog entitled ‘An Adopted Immigrant in Scotland’
- My Ancestry composition below, obtained through genetic testing:
