Farewell to Graham Waddell, Whyte & Mackay – DRAMS

Hero Swish Reverse

This month sees the retirement of Graham Waddell from Whyte and Mackay – who we believe is the longest-serving current DRAMS user. Graham has been working with DRAMS since 1994, and actually began working with Invergordon – prior to its acquisition by Whyte and Mackay – back in 1972! We called Graham to find out about his career, and wish him well for the future.

 

 

Here at DRAMS we are proud of our history and our staff’s longevity – but even we have to raise a glass to Graham Waddell, whose 47 years’ service is an amazing achievement. As you would expect, Graham has witnessed a huge amount of change down the years, citing the upsurge in popularity of malts and adoption of technology as two especially noteworthy developments.

Invergordon were very early adopters of technology, having quickly identified its potential to improve operations. “We felt that anything which deals with the numbers is a help,” Graham recalls. “The technology meant you could actually look at the numbers, rather than spend the day just adding them up.”

These days Graham mainly focuses on reporting, so it is no surprise that he emphasises the data side of the system: “Back then the jobs were more labour intensive, which held back progress; DRAMS made all the difference. And over time we saw more and more companies coming on board with DRAMS. You could even see it in the data coming from other companies: you could tell if they used the DRAMS system just from the information. The technology gave us reliability – the data was so solid.”

Asked about what he has enjoyed most about working in the industry, Graham mentions working with whisky and understanding how it works: “It’s all very interesting, thinking about what you will be able to sell in twelve to fifteen years’ time,” he says. “There’s a lot of money invested in maturing spirit, so you need to know what you will need in the future.”

“I’ve enjoyed working with DRAMS and the DRAMS team” says Graham. The feeling is completely mutual. We thank Graham for his support down the years, and the entire team sends our very best wishes for an enjoyable and relaxing retirement.

Agave Boom & Bust Cycle

Agave on the Clock: Overcoming Challenges in Tequila Production Planning 

Navigate the complexities of the agave boom and bust cycle can be a challenge. Learn how the DRAMS Long-Term Planning system can play a supporting role under these circumstances.

Find out more
Long Term Planning for Bourbon Distilleries

Driving Industry Growth: Long-Term Inventory Planning in the Bourbon Industry

Explore the rapid growth of the Bourbon industry and the crucial role of long-term inventory planning in meeting rising demand. Discover how advanced solutions like DRAMS Long-Term Planning revolutionise spirit inventory management, optimising operations and driving sustained growth for distilleries.

Find out more
Features of a Distillery Software Solution

Features to Look for in a Distillery Management Solution

Selecting the right distillery management solution is crucial for efficiency, compliance, and profitability. Learn what features you should expect your chosen solution to offer you to operate to the highest standard.

Find out more

Webinar Recording: Best Practices for Implementing Barrel Scanning

Access an exclusive 40 minute webinar recording that delves into the best practice of implementing Barrel Scanning software. Originally hosted live in April 2023.

Find out more
Webinar: Long-term Planning

Webinar Recording: Long-Term Inventory Planning

Register for our webinar on long-term spirit inventory planning, hosted by Brendan Flood of DRAMS. Gain valuable insights and receive a recording if you can’t attend live. Sign up today!

Find out more
Long-Term Planning Brochure

DRAMS Long-Term Planning Brochure

Download the DRAMS Long-Term Planning Brochure now and equip your team with the tools they need to make strategic decisions that will drive your business forward and join the ranks of successful spirit producers who trust DRAMS for their long-term planning needs.

Find out more
Wood Management Use Case

DRAMS Wood Management Use Case

In this Use Case we explore how a fictional distillery utilised DRAMS Wood Management to cut their annual cask purchase budget by 15%.

Find out more
DRAMS ERP Integration

DRAMS ERP Integration Process

At DRAMS, we understand the critical importance of seamless integration with your ERP systems. Download our brochure to learn more about how DRAMS enables you to have a smooth integration of our software alongside your current ERP solution.

Find out more
Core DRAMS Product Guide

Core DRAMS Product Guide

Download our core product guide to discover how DRAMS can streamline your operations, enhance compliance, and drive efficiency.

Find out more
Basics of Distillery Management Software

FAQ’s – The Basics of Distillery Management Software

Navigating distillery management software can be daunting. Learn how this specialised system benefits spirit producers by optimising operations, ensuring regulatory compliance, and improving batch quality.

Find out more

DRAMS Services Brochure

Understand the various additional training courses available with DRAMS by downloading our Services Brochure.

Find out more
DRAMS BI Use Case - Rejected Barrels

DRAMS Business Intelligence Use Case – Rejected Barrels

Take a look at a situational use case relating to rejected barrels and how DRAMS’ BI module can play a more informative role in the matter.

Find out more
DRAMS BI Use Case - Anticipating future spirit shortfalls and surpluses.

DRAMS Business Intelligence Use Case – Forecasting Future Spirit Production

Take a look at a situational use case relating to future spirit demand and how DRAMS’ BI module can help address this issue.

Find out more
DRAMS BI Use Case - Hours of resource re-deployed to identify and locate missing barrels

DRAMS Business Intelligence Use Case – Lost Inventory

Take a look at a situational use case relating to lost inventory and how DRAMS’ BI module can provide a real-time view to resolve the problem.

Find out more
DRAMS BI Use Case - Lack of inventory visibility leads to missing finishing casks

DRAMS Business Intelligence Use Case – Missing Finishing Casks

Take a look at a situational use case relating to lack of finishing casks and how DRAMS’ BI module can help prevent this issue.

Find out more
DRAMS Product Brochure Cover

DRAMS Product Brochure

For a complete guide on what DRAMS offers and the benefits we can provide to your barrel inventory management, download our Product Brochure.

Find out more
DRAMS Business Intelligence

DRAMS Business Intelligence Product Guide

For a more information into how you could boost operational efficiency and discover growth opportunities with DRAMS BI, download our comprehensive product guide.

Find out more
Tequila Transformation

Tequila’s Transformation: From Party Spirit to Premium Beverage

Tequila has undergone a remarkable transformation in redefining it’s image in recent years. One contributing factor to this growth is a seismic shift towards premiumisation.

Find out more
Barrel/Cask Wood Management

Wood Management: Enhancing Maturation and Operational Efficiency

DRAMS Wood Management is tailored to maximise the potential of every barrel. Gain control over performance by tracking each cask’s lifecycle from receipt to retirement, including dump and fill cycles and repairs.

Find out more
Navigating Change for Seamless Transitions

Mastering Evolution: Navigating Change for Seamless Transitions

Navigating change involves transparent communication, strategic implementation, ensuring employees are engaged and supported throughout the process for optimal adoption and success.

Find out more
Barcode Scanner

Barrel Scanning: Overcoming Implementation Challenges

Being able to overcome challenges in implementing scanning solutions for distilleries ensures streamlined operations and enhanced product traceability in the dynamic distillery landscape.

Find out more

The Awakening of Irish Whiskey’s Long Time Sleeping Giant

Find out more

Custom ERP functionality for Distillery Management: Is it worth it? – DRAMS

Find out more

Long-Term Planning: Balancing Today’s Inventory with Tomorrow’s Forecast – DRAMS

Find out more

Benefits of Scanning Solutions for Distillery Barrel Management and Warehousing – DRAMS

Find out more

Managing the Angels’ Share – DRAMS

Find out more

The Challenges of an Overdependence on Spreadsheets in Distillery Reporting – DRAMS

Find out more
DRAMS Scan Cask Management

Video: DRAMScan – Revolutionising Cask Management

DRAMScan: a cask scanning module for the DRAMS distillery management system that dramatically simplifies the process of recording cask locations and movements. DRAMScan can vastly improve your warehouse management with an integrated barcoding system.

Find out more

Introducing DRAMS Service Delivery Manager

Find out more

2010-2020: A Decade of Growth, Challenge and Opportunity for Irish Whiskey

Find out more

10 Million Barrels of Bourbon Ageing in Kentucky

Find out more

ERP alone is not enough! – DRAMS

Find out more

DRAMSPrint Label Printing: Available Now! – DRAMS

Find out more

Battling COVID-19: A Community Effort From Distillers Around The World – DRAMS

Find out more

Using DRAMS to Support the Production of Denatured Spirit – DRAMS

Find out more

The DRAMS Guide to Cask Scanning and Labelling – DRAMS

Find out more

Key Question: How to manage spirit recipes and ingredients – DRAMS

Find out more

Key Question: How to manage distillery cask movements – DRAMS

Find out more

Introducing the latest DRAMS Module: DRAMS Business Intelligence – DRAMS

Find out more

Introducing DRAMS New Product Manager

Find out more

Effective long-term planning in the distillery industry – DRAMS

Find out more

2021 User Group Announcement: Updated Features in Core DRAMS – DRAMS

Find out more

The hidden costs of in-house developed distillery systems – DRAMS

Find out more

The DRAMS Solution Sheet – DRAMS

Find out more

5 Questions for Cask Scanning Suppliers – DRAMS

Find out more

The DRAMS Guide to Cask Scanner Hardware – DRAMS

Find out more

The Modern Master Blender – DRAMS

Find out more

Key Question: How to keep track of distillery stocks – DRAMS

Find out more

Gamification: A growing trend in warehousing industries – DRAMS

Find out more

The Innovation Myth – DRAMS

Find out more

Key Question: How to find the right distillery software supplier – DRAMS

Find out more

Is RFID the future for distillery barrel management? – DRAMS

Find out more

DRAMS Scan Solution Sheet

Find out more

An Interview with… Christine Leggat, Inver House Distillers – DRAMS

Find out more

Wild Turkey Case Study – DRAMS

Find out more

North British Distillery Case Study – DRAMS

Find out more

John Dewar and Sons Case Study – DRAMS

Find out more

Glenmorangie: Distilling a Modern Success Story

Find out more

Introducing Gillian, DRAMS Implementation Consultant

Find out more

Ron Welsh on Long Term Planning – DRAMS

Find out more

Innovation: The More the Merrier – DRAMS

Find out more

Farewell to Graham Waddell, Whyte & Mackay – DRAMS

Find out more

Interview with Alistair Paton of Tomatin Distillery Co. Ltd – DRAMS

Find out more

Future proofing innovation in distillery software – DRAMS

Find out more

Creeping towards a technology cliff – DRAMS

Find out more

An Interview with… Ron Welsh, Beam Suntory – DRAMS

Find out more

Innovation Live! The DRAMS Ideas Factory – DRAMS

Find out more

2019 DRAMS User Group

Find out more

It’s here! Welcome to the new DRAMS website – DRAMS

Find out more

DRAMS is 100% focused on bulk stocks and distillery management. We understand that the movement and maturation of spirit is a unique process that demands a truly dedicated software solution. That’s why we first created DRAMS over 50 years ago – and we’ve been improving and expanding it ever since.

 

For more information about DRAMS and all our products and services, complete the form to speak to a consultant or arrange a demo.

 
 
Testimonials

What our clients say…

Whether your distillery is large or small, near or far, one thing remains the same: our clients love our software and support. But don’t take our word for it; here’s what
they have to say…

Branding Dots
Rab Sorman
I know where every spirit is, how it’s maturing, and how it fits into the bigger picture… this plays a crucial role in future blends
Whisky Stocks and Blending Manager, Glenmorangie
Alistair Paton
It does make such a difference talking to knowledgeable people who have years of experience dealing with our specialised industry and who are always prepared to go the extra mile.
Project Manager, The Tomatin Distillery Co.
Ron Welsh
DRAMS is a great inventory management system. It allows me to quickly analyse the stocks we have and what we can use it for; and allows us to easily allocate to future blends.
Master Blender and Strategic Inventory Manager, Beam Suntory
Christine Leggat
Every piece of spirit that moves within the business is captured within DRAMS.
Stock Controller, Inver House Distillers
John Kerr
The knowledge of DRAMS’ consultants – both of their product and of bulk stock processing as a whole – gave us a solid platform to work from.
Bulk Planner, John Dewar & Sons
Ron Welsh
You need to know exactly what you have and when it becomes of age to put into bottle. For this you require granularity of month by month data.
Master Blender and Strategic Inventory Manager, Beam Suntory
David Jordan
For any warehouse, any floor, rick and level, I can see what stock is there and how much space I have at the push of a button.
Maturing Inventory Manager, Wild Turkey