Malt whisky production is set to resume in its “birth place” in a rural part of north-east Scotland for the first time in 170 years, reports the Press & Journal.
Construction has begun on the Cabrach Distillery in Inverharroch, Moray, as the foundation stone was laid last week at the site of a 19th century farmhouse.
The farmhouse will also be home to a future heritage centre, thanks to £3.5 million funding. The centre will showcase the intricacies involved in creating malt whisky.
Cabrach Distillery will operate as a social enterprise, with future revenues supporting the Cabrach Trust’s regeneration mission. Barley will be sourced from adjacent fields which will maintain a commitment to sustainability.
Grant Gordon, founder and chairman of the Cabrach Trust, hopes the new distillery will regenerate Cabrach as a “thriving and sustainable community”.
A significant change to legislation in 1823 meant three Cabrach families were compelled to establish legally regulated distilleries on their farms.
The facilities flourished and real Cabrach whisky became highly regarded.
But various factors saw the distilleries close one by one, and the population of Cabrach declined to less than 100 people.
Gordon told the Press & Journal: “Having laid this stone, it represents a critical milestone for the trust and we look forward to embarking on this exciting next chapter in the Cabrach story.”
Photo by Stanley Howe.
