Whisky production has returned to a historic Speyside community after more than 170 years.
The first distillation at The Cabrach Distillery has revived the craft of whisky making in The Cabrach, a remote and sparsely populated area on the northern edge of the Cairngorms National Park which was once home to a thriving illicit whisky trade.
The Cabrach Distillery is the flagship asset of The Cabrach Trust, which was set up in 2013 in response to the need to preserve the cultural heritage of The Cabrach and safeguard its remote community.
As well as the distillery, The Cabrach Trust’s community-led regeneration plan for The Cabrach will also see the development of a bistro and dedicated heritage centre.
In front of over 100 guests, including the local community and members of The Cabrach Collective - a small community of ‘founding champions’ helping to bring a forgotten whisky tradition back to life, first distillation of the new spirit took place at Inverharroch Farm, within painstakingly-restored 19th century stone steadings.
READ MORE: New whisky distillery seeks to revive dwindling Scottish community
The Cabrach Distillery’s first spirit ceremony follows a successful application by The Cabrach Trust to secure capital funding from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund; a commitment targeted at projects in the North East and Moray which contribute towards the region’s transition to net zero.
Heralding the return of real Cabrach whisky, the first distillation from The Cabrach Distillery was marked with a ceremony attended by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes.
Ms Forbes said: “The Cabrach Distillery was one of the first projects to secure monies from the Just Transition Fund, a £75 million Scottish Government initiative to create jobs and support innovation across the North East and Moray.
“As a social enterprise and whisky distillery it’s a unique part of the vibrant food and drink sector which makes a valuable contribution to the national and local economies. Today’s ceremony signals the start of a new chapter for The Cabrach and its ambitions to be a leading example of community-led, rural regeneration.”
Jonathan Christie, Chief Executive Officer of The Cabrach Trust, said: “Our first distillation represents a long-awaited, landmark milestone in our journey to revive the lost spirit of The Cabrach. This is a project that will serve as the economic lungs of our regeneration vision for this special place, attracting thousands of visitors to the area, captivated by the incredible history and timeless landscapes of The Cabrach.
“It has been a privilege to share this occasion with the Deputy First Minister, and we greatly appreciate the Scottish Government’s continued support of our mission. The wild spirit of The Cabrach will now be filled into fine casks to begin its patient maturation which, in time, will culminate in the release of The Cabrach Single Malt Scotch Whisky.”
READ MORE: Birthplace of malt whisky celebrated as community maps three centuries of history
Grant Gordon OBE, Founder & Chair of The Cabrach Trust, added: “The Cabrach is my home as well that of my ancestors, but in my lifetime, I’ve witnessed firsthand decades of abandonment and decline.
"Since The Cabrach Trust was established in 2013, we have witnessed the growing support of the community, further strengthened by an ever-increasing membership. The creation of The Cabrach Distillery sits at the heart of our regeneration aims for The Cabrach. This is a unique community asset that will celebrate an important part of The Cabrach’s cultural identity, whilst creating an extraordinary Single Malt Whisky. I’m immeasurably proud today.”
Once complete, The Cabrach Distillery, wholly owned by The Cabrach Trust, will produce 100,000 litres of spirit each year, with barley sourced from the fields adjacent to the distillery and nearby farms.
The limited, hand-crafted Single Malt Scotch Whisky will be born from small Forsyths stills, cooled by traditional worm tubs, with the majority of casks maturing in The Cabrach. The first Cabrach Single Malt Scotch Whisky is due to be unveiled in 2030.
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