As construction commenced on Scotland’s newest whisky distillery at the Cabrach in Moray, a celebration to mark the event was held in Dufftown.
Work on the £3.5 million Cabrach Distillery and Heritage Centre caused its supporters to raise a glass at a sparkling event at Glenfiddich Distillery’s Malt Barn.
Grant Gordon, a former director of his family’s business William Grant and Sons which built the Glenfiddich Distillery, welcomed the progress of the development in an area famed for its role in the birth of malt whisky.
Even the band was a bit special. Entertainment at the event was supplied by ClogIron, a five-piece rock band comprising best-selling thriller author Ken Follett on bass, Tim Blythe on guitar and vocals, Daren Cook on drums, Chris Manners on guitar and vocals and Paul Vile on guitar and vocals.
‘Bringing together whisky community is cause for celebration itself’
Gordon, chair of the Cabrach Trust behind the distillery and a member of one of Scotland’s richest families, told guests of “significant progress by the new year” on the project.
He said: “To bring together many of the wonderful whisky community is cause for celebration in itself.
“That we are able to mark the incredible progress made in recent months towards bringing malt whisky production back to the Cabrach is doubly satisfying.
“We thank everyone who helped us enjoy the occasion and we look forward to welcoming them to the home of a completed and fully-functioning Cabrach Distillery in years to come.”
Follett, who has sold who has sold more than 160 million novels, said: “It’s always great to get the band together, especially for an event like this with such a warm and hospitable atmosphere.
“We only play a few gigs a year, so each one is always very special.”
The trust acquired the historic Inverharroch Farm and its 170 acres of land where the development is taking shape in 2013.
WATCH: Inside look at Cabrach Trust’s £3.5m whisky distillery and heritage centre project with construction well underway
The distillery and traditional dunnage warehouse will occupy two wings of the steading, with the additional two wings allocated for the heritage centre, community bistro, tasting room, and visitor reception.
Final masonry works will be completed on 19th-century steadings, which will then be made wind- and watertight before hardwood windows and doors are installed and the roof topped with reclaimed Welsh slate.
The coming weeks will also see the construction of the new peat shed — the development’s energy and malt-handling centre.
The future of the Cabrach
The trust plans to operate the facility as as a social enterprise and adopt historic methods which reflect the manufacture and production of malt whisky from the 1800s when “real Cabrach whisky” was widely acclaimed.
Its backers aim to produce 100,000 litres of spirit each year, with barley sourced from the fields adjacent to the distillery and from nearby farms.
Following ageing and maturation, the bottled product will eventually be available for sale, generating profits as part of the trust’s long-term sustainability plan.
It is hoped that single malt production will resume in the area for the first time in over 170 years in winter 2023.
Earlier this year, the Cabrach Trust opened its Discovery Trail, allowing visitors enjoy the beautiful Moray scenery, and also relaunched the Cabrach Games, a former staple of the Highland Games calendar, after an 87-year hiatus.
Pictures from the event
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