A distillery which will bring back Scotch whisky making in a “storied rural community” this autumn has appointed its first head distiller.

The Cabrach Distillery in Moray has appointed 29-year-old Euan Christie, who formerly managed Dornoch Distillery, to the post ahead of what it describes as its “historic inaugural distillation this autumn”.

Mr Christie, who revealed he had not expected to get the job when he applied, said: “You read in old books about the quality of the whisky here and I want to recreate that aura.”

The distillery noted that Mr Christie would “takes the reins of the new distillery at Inverharroch Farm in The Cabrach, the area synonymous with high-quality, illicit amber nectar 200 years ago, as a community-driven, newly installed distillery prepares for its maiden distillation”.

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It said Mr Christie is embarking on the senior role “after impressing a panel including The Cabrach Trust CEO Jonathan Christie and whisky industry icon Alan Winchester, under whose tutelage he will work in his new role”.

The new head distiller said: "First and foremost, I have a determination to do things right and to do the local community justice.

"We've got the potential to make some very special, high-quality liquid here, but, as importantly, we want this distillery and its whisky to be for the community."

Mr Christie completed a sports science degree before a hotel job in the Highlands led to an opportunity to assume control of the distillery operation in Dornoch.

The Cabrach Distillery said that, “with a second degree, gained at the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt, he gained the nous and expertise to take his skills to the next level, culminating in an appointment for a job he felt was aspirational rather than realistic in the fledgling stage of his spirits career”.

Mr Christie said: “No great chef ever worked at only one restaurant and, when this job came up, the nature of the project struck me as one of a kind.

“When I first reached out, I hadn’t suspected I would get this job and had said ‘keep my CV on file’, but following an intense recruitment process the good news came through and I couldn’t wait to get started.

"Day to day, I'll be responsible for the smooth running of the plant, maintenance and quality control. I'm hoping I won’t have to swap my combat trousers and steel toe-caps for chinos and shoes. What’s important to me in whisky-making is intent: being as hands-on and at the coalface as much as possible, as well as leading and helping those eventually working alongside me. Right now, and by October, it's about ensuring we’re production-ready."

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The distillery said: “The Cabrach Distillery was constructed entirely by Forsyths of Rothes and, though all new, retains the character of refurbished farm buildings at Inverharroch and boasts plenty of personality by way of its unique Buck Still - so-named after the iconic local hill - as well as traditional dunnage warehouses that will eventually stand adjacent to a visitor centre and bistro.

“It's all part of a long-term vision by The Cabrach Trust to inject better prospects into a community that has suffered dramatic depopulation since the two World Wars a century ago: the distillery will offer a boost to employment, economy and tourism and sits at the heart of a farm now home to community craft programmes, a family-friendly nature trail, and the resurrected annual Highland Games event The Cabrach Picnic and Games.”

Mr Christie said: “The distillery is part of a wider community regeneration project and, over the next six months, the distillery team will set the tone with local people.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to define the style and set the course for going forward. The Cabrach is rightly proud of its long history of whisky-making and I want our work to be viewed as an extension of that - the next step in The Cabrach’s whisky journey."

Aberdeen native Mr Christie's vision for the whisky is "rooted in the community visible from the stillhouse door", the distillery said.

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He said: "I was at the Cabrach Picnic and Games shortly before starting my new job to meet the local community and get a feel for the place.

“You want to do this job well, not just for them but to bring the area into the distillery. We want to build a team that will include local folk and tap into that wealth of knowledge in the area."

He added: "The team here will work on ideas of how the whisky will look, taste and feel, and we’ve spoken about a soft, classic Speyside style, with a subtle hint of peat as a homage to how the illicit whisky would have been peated. It may sound daft in whisky production, but I’m trying not to think too far ahead. I believe if we do the hard work now on the quality of the spirit, we put ourselves in a good position for three, four, five years’ time."

Jonathan Christie, of The Cabrach Trust, said: "We're excited at the prospect of such a prodigious talent as Euan leading whisky production here in The Cabrach. He has fitted right into the team here and has fully tuned into the history and heritage of the Cabrach. We're keenly anticipating what is to come from Euan and the team here as we aim to showcase the craft and alchemy of making Scotland’s national drink, while telling the story of this historic region."

Construction of The Cabrach Distillery and Heritage Centre by The Cabrach Trust is close to completion and the first spirit will run from the stills this autumn.

The Cabrach Picnic and Games was a staple of the Highland Games calendar and ran annually from 1877 to 1935. It returned in July 2022.