Stuart MacLean Ramsay, trademarked as The Scotch Guy, was born and raised in the Highlands of Scotland. Writer, editor and public speaker, Ramsay is a leading expert on spirits, cocktails and craft beer. He was the American correspondent and contributing editor for Britain’s Whisky Magazine and is currently contributing editor for Santé Magazine and The Malt Advocate in the United States.

Ramsay has been a newspaper columnist for the Portland Oregonian newspaper, and writes about cocktails and spirits for the paper’s A&E magazine.
His manuscript on the history of Scotch whisky was the subject of a bidding war between five leading New York publishing houses.

His most recent writing project has been contributing editor for The Definitive World Guide to Whisky, published by Britain’s Dorling Kindersley.

Ramsay wrote the American and Canadian chapters for this award-winning book, published in 2005.
The book’s awards include a prestigious James Beard Award for best spirits & wine publication; "Best Spirits Book" in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, France; "Best Drink Guide Book" in the World Food Media Awards, in Adelaide, Australia; and the Silver Medal in the "World's Best Drink Book" category at the Gourmet Voice Media Awards in Cannes, France.

Ramsay is a Life Member of the prestigious Keepers of the Quaich Society, an international organization which honors those who have contributed greatly to the success and nobility of Scotch whisky and Scotland.

Ramsay has also been inducted into the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels for his writing about Kentucky Bourbon and Kentucky. He’s been a judge at Whisky Magazine’s Best of the Best Whisky Awards, held annually in Bardstown, Kentucky. In 2003, Ramsay was a nominee for the best drink journalist in the World Food Media Awards.

He has a bagpipe tune, “Stuart MacLean Ramsay,” named after him for his work with young people and Celtic music.