An innovative whisky expert will be raising a glass after he received a prestigious award.
Rikki Scott, visitor centre supervisor at Chivas Brothers’ Aberlour Distillery, is toasting his success after scooping the Whisky Magazine Global Icons of Whisky Award.
It follows a successful tenure, which began in May 2014, in which Mr Scott managed to come up with an innovation which kept visitors happy and encouraged whisky fans to continue to come to the site.
In December 2014, the drink-drive limit was reduced to 50 milligrammes of alcohol in every 100milliletres of blood.
Faced with the changes in rules and after speaking with a number of disappointed drivers who were now missing out on the visitor experience, Mr Scott managed to come up with a way for motorists to taste the amber nectar and still safely, and legally, drive home.
The Rothes man created a driver’s tasting kit which enables motorists to take part in the initial nosing before dispensing the whisky into bottles to enjoy the tasting experience at home.
The low-priced reusable kits contain six small bottles, a funnel and a handy carry bag.
Mr Scott was presented with his award at the Waldorf Hilton Hotel in London.
Last night he said he was stunned to be given the honour but also gave credit to his colleagues at the centre.
He said: “I was very shocked but also very proud to win the Global Icons of Whisky Award.
“To be recognised globally is not only an achievement for the Aberlour Visitor Centre but also for the area as a whole.
“The award win is a real testament to the hard work and dedication of the team and the high standards we set ourselves each year to enhance the visitor experience.”
He was initially given Scotland’s Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year in December, before moving through to the global finals where he beat competition winners from across the world.
The Aberlour Visitor Centre, which lies at the heart of Speyside, recently re-opened its doors for the summer season.
