Iain McPherson: the bar industry’s resident mad scientist

• Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
• Ranked #20 @ The World’s 50 Best Bars list
•  Best Cocktail Menu Award 2026

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In 2013 Iain opened the world-famous Panda & Sons (No.34 on The World’s 50 Best Bars list). A couple of years later saw him open the eccentric and playful Hoot The Redeemer to much acclaim.

He obtained his “Science of Ice Cream” degree at the University of Reading. Furthering his expertise, by attending the “Gelato University” in Bologna, Italy. Which led to him creating the brand “Señor Scoop”, which is his liquor infused ice cream company in 2015. Basically, he’s an overqualified ice cream lover!

In 2017 he joined forces with Joe Russo, who is one half of the ‘Russo Brothers’ (Directors of Avengers: Infinity War and End Game) in opening a cocktail bar in the Arts District of Los Angeles.

2018 saw him team up with another Scottish bartending stalwart, Kyle Jamieson, in opening Nauticus, which is all about championing Scottish produce.

Iain has always been obsessed with sub-zero temperatures from a young age and created the cocktail technique called “Switching” back in 2018. It was the first significant bar dedicated technique in our industry, for over a decade.

Iain has continued pioneering more freezing techniques. in 2023 he made another breakthrough and created the technique ‘Sous Pression’ which is the freezing alternative to ‘Sous Vide’. He believes we should be doing more to identify sub-zero temperatures, as an alternative or addition to cooking techniques within the bar industry. Their innovative menu “Transcend”, won “World’s Best Cocktail menu” at the 2025 Spirited Awards, at Tales of The Cocktail, while Iain also personally won “Best international Bar Mentor”.

Iain has also been ever present in the “Bar World 100” list, since its inception, which is the top 100 most influential people in the Global drinks industry list. He claimed No.1 spot in 2025 and No.2 on the 2026 list, becoming the first Scottish person to do so. Being one of only 19 people to be ever present on the list since its inception in 2019.

He most recently won the prestigious “Innovator of The Year” at the 2026 CLASS Bar Awards, now winning it 4 years in a row. During The 50 Best Bars 2024 awards ceremony, Iain was awarded “Altos Bartender’s Bartender of The Year”. This award is the only peer voted award during 50 Best.

In early 2026 Iain released another flavour technique called “Densing”, to the surprise of the global community, as it was not a sub-zero temp technique, but is gaining traction globally in a very short time.

More Mixologists here. Go back home.