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.
Cabrach Distillery will be built on the site of a 19th century farmhouse in Inverharroch in Moray.
Construction began on the Cabrach Distillery as the foundation stone was laid at a site in Inverharroch, Moray, on the 25th of August 2022.
A 19th century farmhouse will house the facility and a future heritage centre after £3.5m was sourced for the project which will showcase the craft and alchemy of making Scotland’s national drink.
The 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.
It is hoped the project will be completed next year, which will mark 170 years since the last time whisky was legally produced in the area.
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.
Grant Gordon, founder and chairman of the Cabrach Trust, hopes the new distillery will regenerate Cabrach as a “thriving and sustainable community”.
Mr Gordon said: “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.”