Moray MP Douglas Ross visited the Cabrach Trust last Friday, to hear more about the exciting developments and projects the trust are working on in the coming months and years.
Commenting after meeting Chief Executive Jonathan Christie, Douglas said: “It was good to once again visit the Cabrach Trust to hear how plans are developing to create a distillery, heritage centre, café and shop that aims to highlight the historical story of illicit distilling and smuggling in the area and how it shaped the modern Scotch whisky industry we know today.
“The first phase of the Trust masterplan will be the opening of a new distillery reflecting manufacturing techniques from the early 1800’s as part of a unique visitor experience. Once aged, whisky produced in the Cabrach will be available for the first time in many years.
“The Cabrach distillery will be operated as a social enterprise, with all profits reinvested in projects that will help to build resilience and long-term sustainability in the area. It was good to hear how the natural environment around the farm is also becoming more accessible with the creation of a series of walks and trails.
“This project has the potential to be an exemplar of its kind, bringing together more remote communities in a focussed way with a self-sustaining initiative. I’m sure it will breathe life back into the whole community and I look forward to watching it develop in the months and years ahead.”
Cabrach Trust Chief Executive Jonathan Christie, added: “It was a pleasure hosting Douglas at Inverharroch, providing an important opportunity to talk through our regeneration plans for the Cabrach whilst outlining the significant progress which has been made over recent months. His genuine interest in the Cabrach community, and the future prosperity of this region, was abundantly clear. Here we recognised that success in the Cabrach will be the product of genuine support and input from a multitude of stakeholders, not the efforts of The Cabrach Trust alone.
“With several exciting projects progressed over recent months, and work on the major project commencing over coming weeks, we look forward to sharing progress as our one-of-a-kind social enterprise unfolds. The Cabrach Distillery and Heritage Centre is central to our regeneration plans and the long-term sustainability of this important community. We are humbled by the interest and support offered by Douglas, peers from across the political divide, and an array of incredible community and funding partners.”
