Scotch distillery gets royal seal of approval

Scotland’s “first” single estate Scotch whisky distillery, Ballindalloch, has been officially opened by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Charles and Camilla, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, were joined by the founders and team members of Ballindalloch, as well as local dignitaries for the opening yesterday.

Billed as Scotland’s first single estate distillery, Ballindalloch crafts whisky using barley grown on the estate and water sourced from the same land, only outsourcing yeast. Distillation began toward the end of last year with the first bottling of Ballindalloch Scotch due to take place in the next eight to 10 years.

The Duke and Duchess spent over an hour at the distillery, during which they unveiled the site’s commemorative plaque and fitted bungs into two casks, the whisky from which will be bottled in 10 years’ time with the proceeds from future sales going toward charities chosen by the Duke and Duchess.