Hebrides whisky attract’s wide interest

By Greigg Adams

A limited edition bottle of Kilchoman Distillery’s first ever single malt from cask number one, filled in December 2005, was sold at auction for a staggering £5,400.

The winning bid was made by Niels Ladefoged, originally from Denmark and who lives in the UK. The bottle of the three year old single malt has a unique design and is the only one of its kind. All proceeds of the auction will go to Islay charities.

The bottle and its presentation was exclusively designed for the distillery. The bottle is contained in an attractive box that was hand made by Howard Proctor, who is also a member of Kilchoman’s production team, and features a watercolour on the label, painted by Nicola Wilks, an artist from Otter Ferry Argyll with three generations of family connections with Islay.

The auction took place at Kilchoman Distillery’s Open Day today (May 28) during Feis Ile, the Islay Festival of Malt & Music. The week long island festival has helped raise further awareness of Kilchoman’s very first single malt that will be launched on the 9th of September.

Anthony Wills, Founder & Managing Director of Kilchoman Distillery told hebrides news today “We are delighted with the winning bid and a huge congratulations to Niels Ladefoged. Our thanks go to all those, both local and international, who made their bids for such a wonderful piece of whisky history. The money raised from the auction will go to Islay charities. The response from our auction has been encouraging and we look forward to an exciting year ahead and the launch of our very first single malt.”

Also eagerly anticipated by whisky lovers, is a dram which will not be available until 2014, however the produce of the Isle of Barra Distillery has already sold out.

Owner of what will be the island’s first ever distillery, Peter Brown, has said the company are now selling from their second year production.

Construction of the distillery itself has not yet started but demand for its produce is a good omen for a successful launch.

And further promotion of the island and its produce is also on the horizon when the first ever ‘Whisky Galore Festival’ takes place on September 18, 19 and 20. The events will incorporate all things Scottish and will include film screenings of the classic Ealing comedy, talks, tours and concerts.

However it seems that Barra is not the only location in the Western Isles where whisky is to make a grand return – a former fish farm in Uig, Lewis is set to become the first legal whisky distillery in the Outer Hebrides in 170 years.

The first spirits from the Abhainn Dearg distillery located at Loch Scaslavat a quarter of a mile southwest of Carnish goes on sale this summer.

With plans to release its first single malt whisky in 2011 to coincide with the Royal National Mod in Stornoway.

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