Speyside-based The Cabrach has started distilling its first single malt whisky at its new distillery.
The distillery has been in development since 2017, with its most recent funding round in July totalling nearly £140,000 (US$180,261) from Social Investment Scotland.
The distillery is community-owned and situated on Cabrach on the southern edge of Moray, which is famed for its history of illicit smuggling and production.
No whisky has been made in the Cabrach area for more than 170 years, despite claims that it is the ‘birthplace’ of malt whisky.
The distillery will produce 100,000 litres of spirit each year, with barley sourced from the fields adjacent to the distillery and nearby farms.
The distillation ceremony was held at Inverharroch Farm and attended by more than 100 guests, which included the local community, members of The Cabrach Collective and deputy first minister Kate Forbes.
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.
“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.”
The single malt will be distilled, matured and bottled on a limited scale, creating ‘scarce and highly sought-after’ bottlings.
Forbes added: “The Cabrach Distillery was one of the first projects to secure monies from the Just Transition Fund, a £75 million (US$97m) 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.”
Community vision
In addition to its whisky making, the distillery will also function as a social enterprise, with all of its future profits going to The Cabrach Trust’s community regeneration plan.
The regeneration plan includes the creation of a bistro and a heritage centre, which aims to bring hospitality to visitors.
To assure ‘early success’, the distillery created The Cabrach Collective, a small community of ‘founding champions’, limited to 1,849 members, who can join the collective for £1,245 (US$1,534).
Members get first access to exclusive bottlings such as the debut single malt and the Feering series, The Cabrach Trust’s first whisky, which was made from a blend of whiskies from four local Speyside distilleries.
Grant Gordon OBE, founder and 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, while creating an extraordinary single malt whisky.
“I’m immeasurably proud today.”
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Author: Rupert Hohwieler
