IT is surely the last word in carry-outs.
In what is being billed as a "game changer" for the global drinks industry, a Scottish company has produced the world's first portable whisky distillery, hoping to cash in on the increasing thirst for the water of life in the Far East.
More used to making pipes, pots and machinery for the oil and gas industry, Moray-based Forsyths Limited expanded into distilling during the North Sea downturn.
Now a world leader in the construction of industrial distillation equipment, they have developed a kit distillery can be set up anywhere there is water, power and the ingredients for alcohol.
Forsyths’ senior project engineer Kenny Gilchrist said that the cutting-edge innovation, designed using 3D imaging software, took years to perfect but is now ready to roll off the assembly line.
The first of the mobile whisky-makers is being sent to Japan, where it will be set up in Tokyo, and the firm has already been contacted by a round a dozen other distillers interested in finding out more.
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Mr Gilchrist said: “We predict this will be a game changer in the global spirits industry.
“It’s going to give distillers flexibility to make a quality product wherever they want as long as they have access to water, power and a licence.
"In theory, providing you have those key elements, you could distil in the desert, jungle or Arctic wastes. It’s easy to move and not too big but still makes a lot of spirit.”
The engineer said that spirits business has become very diverse during the past decade and a half, with the arrival of craft distillers and small-scale gin producers.
This helped drive the development of the mobile still, which, at maximum capacity, can produce 400,000 litres of pure alcohol every year.
He said: "During the last 10 to 15 years small boutique distilleries have been popping up all over the place, quite a lot of them in the far east, Japan and New Zealand.
"We were looking at a way to reduce costs - if we can build it here and take it out to them, it saves a lot of money.
"Instead of sending ten guys out for ten weeks to install the distillery out there, we can send two guys out for two weeks and just assemble to order. It's that simple."
Mr Gilchrist added: "It's a plug and play distillery."
The self-contained unit contains milling, mashing, fermentation and distillation equipment, and comes split into eight sections which can be transported anywhere.
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Although the concept of the mobile distillery has existed within the company for several years, it was brought from concept to reality by the firm's Managing Director Richard E Forsyth
Forsyths’ hand-made traditional pot stills are widely regarded as being at the very top end of the market.
They are made in much the same way as they were when Forsyths started in 19th century with the craft being handed down through the generations.
After being divided into eight shipping containers and three crates, the unit will now be shipped to a soon-to-be opened distillery in Tokyo, Japan in the coming weeks.
Two specialists from Forsyths will travel to Japan with the mobile unit and spend a couple of weeks on site assembling and testing it.
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The company have already set up a new permanent office in Hong Kong to deal with likely demand from its new venture – and continuing growth – in the overseas sector.
Specialists from Forsyths will travel to Japan with the mobile unit and spend a couple of weeks on site assembling and testing it.
Richard E Forsyth said: “This unit has been assembled, piped, wired and tested in a controlled environment in our workshops in Buckie. This affords us a better control on health and safety during the build but also significantly reduces our installation costs when compared to a traditional overseas build.
"It could also open up a new market sector in the shape of distilleries for rent or lease.”
Chairman, Richard Forsyth Snr, added; “Many developments and inventions down the centuries have been inspired by changing global forces.
"This development is testament to the incredible expertise, innovation and foresight of our highly skilled workforce – based right here in Moray, Scotland.”
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