A north-east distillery which was one of the first to be built in post- Second World War Scotland is celebrating 60 years in business.
Macduff Distillery was founded by four Glasgow businessmen on what was formerly the gardens for Duff House estate by the river Deveron in 1960.
As government controls on the distilling industry and malt and grain rationings lifted in 1959, Macduff was part of a new era of distilleries built to meet the post-war increase in demand for whisky.
For the past 30 years it has been run by rum maker Bacardi, which has now archived news cuttings, photographs and video footage of its history within its Glasgow headquarters.
Bacardi’s global heritage manager, Jacqueline Seargeant, said: “It was a significant moment for the local area when Macduff opened its doors.
“There was an official opening on September 1, 1960 which was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, Colonel Sir George W. Abercromby, as well as local business people, members of the whisky industry and the local press.
“This period was the dawning of a new era in distilling processes. Production at Macduff was simple and compact, focusing on energy saving techniques such as lagged pot stills which were also steam heated and the use of gravity instead of pumps.”
Back then distillery manager James Nicol oversaw the bottling of its first whisky in 1968 – a five-year-old, labelled ‘”Macduff Pure Highland Malt Scotch Whisky”.
Current manager, Jamie Winfield, added: “The distillery’s history and its importance to the local area is always front of mind when I walk in each morning.
“It’s a real privilege to be part of its past, present and future as we build on generations of craftsmanship and skill, alongside the very latest technology, to create incredible whiskies that are enjoyed around the world.”
Alongside its sister distilleries in Scotland, Macduff Distillery, and its team of around a dozen staff, helped produced more than 15,000 litres of hand sanitiser for donation to local emergency services when the coronavirus was at a peak.
Mr Winfield added: “With the coronavirus crisis, recent months have thrown many challenges our way, but I have an amazing team and we’ve adapted quickly.
“At the same time, it’s been especially rewarding to make a genuine difference for our local community in the fight against Covid-19.”
