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Whisky
production has returned to the historic
Cabrach area of Speyside with the first
distillation at The Cabrach Distillery.
After nearly two
centuries, whisky production has
returned to the historic Cabrach
area of Speyside with the first
distillation at The Cabrach Distillery,
rekindling the time-honoured craft of
whisky making in this distinctive part
of Scotland.
Celebrating the revival of authentic
Cabrach whisky after a 170-year hiatus,
the first distillation was marked by an
exclusive ceremony attended by Deputy
First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for
Economy and Gaelic, Kate Forbes.
Known as one of the birthplaces of malt
whisky, The Cabrach is a unique region
on Speyside’s rugged edge where Highland
landscapes, a rich cultural heritage,
and a strong community spirit blend to
create a rare sense of place. It’s here
that the early story of Scotch unfolded,
with three legal distilleries operating
after the 1823 legalisation of
production. Now, The Cabrach Distillery
is reviving these traditions while
working to rejuvenate the local
community.
Amidst over 100 attendees, including
local residents and The Cabrach
Collective, the first distillation took
place at Inverharroch Farm within
meticulously restored 19th-century stone
buildings. The Cabrach Trust’s
community-led regeneration initiative
also includes plans for a bistro and
heritage centre alongside the distillery
to welcome visitors.
A social enterprise and the first
Community Interest Company of its kind,
The Cabrach Distillery is both
purpose-driven and community-owned,
aiming for the highest standards of
social and environmental responsibility.
The distillery’s profits will directly
support The Cabrach Trust’s community
revitalisation efforts by creating
skilled jobs and volunteering
opportunities.
The historic first spirit ceremony
follows The Cabrach Trust’s successful
bid for capital funding from the
Scottish Government’s Just Transition
Fund, aimed at supporting the North East
and Moray region’s transition to
net-zero.
During the event, the Deputy First
Minister toured the distillery’s
stillhouse to witness the first spirit
flowing through the spirit safe,
followed by a speech in the dunnage
warehouse where she praised the boldness
of the project and highlighted its
potential economic impact as the
centrepiece of The Cabrach Trust’s
regeneration plan.
The Cabrach Distillery is outfitted with
a 0.5-ton semilauter mash tun, 6 wooden
washbacks, a 2,500 litre wash still, and
a 1,800 litre spirit still, providing an
annual production capacity of 100,000
litres.
The Cabrach Distillery will produce,
age, and bottle an its crafted single
malt Scotch whisky in very limited
quantities, making bottles of Cabrach
Single Malt Whisky both rare and highly
prized.
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."
Deputy First Minister Kate 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."
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."
To ensure a strong beginning, The
Cabrach Distillery has launched The
Cabrach Collective—a select community of
founding supporters dedicated to
reviving the lost craft of whisky making
in The Cabrach. This unique membership
program goes beyond offering a special
whisky package; it invites enthusiasts
to join a story of renewal and play an
essential role in restoring a proud and
unique community.
Members of The Cabrach Collective will
have access to an exclusive line-up of
bottling's, including the inaugural
release of The Cabrach Single Malt
Scotch Whisky, crafted with precision
and available solely to Collective
members.
The membership also includes The Feering
series of three Speyside blended malt
whiskies and access to future
Collective-exclusive distillery releases
available for annual purchase.
Each member receives a welcome pack with
a Cabrach nosing glass and an invitation
to yearly visits to Inverharroch Farm to
experience the remarkable community
regeneration project in person.
Limited to 1,849 members in homage to
the historic steadings, the distillery’s
Inverharroch home since 1849, membership
in The Cabrach Collective is available
for £1,245 per person.
The Cabrach Trust, a registered charity
established in 2013 by Grant Gordon OBE,
is dedicated to preserving The Cabrach’s
cultural heritage and supporting its
remote community. The Trust’s
community-led regeneration plan has
driven projects like the distillery and
heritage center, the Discovery Trails, a
rural skills and wellness program, the
creation of Cabrach Tweed, the revival
of a traditional Highland Games, and
much more.
To learn more about The Cabrach
Distillery or to join The Cabrach
Collective, visit www.thecabrach.com.
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