Elayne Duff

Director of Brand Advocacy, Samson & Surrey

Duff brings more than 20 years of industry experience to her new position as Samson & Surrey Director of Brand Advocacy.

In her role, Duff oversees an advocacy team charged with continuing to grow Samson & Surrey’s diverse family of award-winning, premium craft spirits. The lineup spans from bartender darling Tequila Ocho and artisan mezcal brand Mezcal Vago, to Bluecoat, the original American dry gin; grain-to-glass producer FEW Spirits; Brenne French Single Malt Whisky; and Brooklyn whiskey maker and Samson & Surrey flagship, Widow Jane.

Duff’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to found the "Beverage Brand Ambassador Academy," a groundbreaking online training program for Brand Ambassadors that has been adopted by companies worldwide. She has spoken at industry trade shows around the world and has appeared countless times in print, digital, and broadcast media.

She also hosts the podcast "Celebrating the Brand Ambassador." On the show she conducts candid, entertaining, behind the scenes interviews with the best spirits brand ambassadors from around the world. She dives into their personal life stories, roles and responsibilities, the challenges of the position, best practices, and much more.

A natural marketer, cocktail program designer, public speaker, educator, and entrepreneur, Duff made history in 2006 as the first head mixologist and luxury spirits ambassador at Diageo U.S.A, a job she held for nearly a decade.

In 2015 she became a Global Manager at AB-Inbev ZX Ventures, where she developed educational and experiential strategies for the brand’s craft beers worldwide.