Spirited official opening for Kintyre Gin distillery
As youngsters pogoed round, oblivious to the solemn occasion, the Scottish cabinet secretary for rural affairs declared Beinn an Tuirc Distillery open. At the offical event, MSP Fergus Ewing joined a diverse group, including bankers, lawyers and Kintyre crowdfunders who had backed Niall Macalister Hall, his wife Emma and distiller Su Black. On arrival, from 10.30am on Monday, guests mingling on the distillery’s visitor centre patio, sampled various concoctions of gin-based ‘long’ drinks, served from the horsebox bar converted for last Friday’s Kintyre show. In a speech announcing the official opening, Mr Ewing said: ‘You have already won prizes for quality and taste. ‘Also Kenny Macalister Hall’s artwork on the bottle and the logo has won top prize in respect of the appearance and presentation of the bottle. ‘I mean, it is not just an ordinary wild boar, there’s something quite captivating and rewarding about this, particularly when you see the mounted version. ‘I was just saying to Su, you could have a little bubble coming out of the wild boar’s mouth saying: “I want to move it, move it.” ‘It is a hint of the licentiousness and pleasure lying ahead. ‘The tasting room is magnificent and makes you want to sit down at that table and have a gin. ‘You are producing using the natural assets of Scotland, the hydro-electricity scheme in the estate is being used. ‘This comes on the back of the entrepreneurship Torrisdale estate has already shown, with the high-class tourist offering you provide in this lovely part of Scotland. ‘The absolute killer blow, I just learned from Kenny beforehand, I said: “Where are all the midges?” and he said, “They have been zapped by the heat. Forget independence, it is total world domination”. ‘Seriously, it is a real pleas- ure being here. What you have done, Niall, along with your family, is a terrific thing for this part of the country. ‘It will be here long after I am gone, it will be here for further generations of your family and that’s a terrific thing that you have done for Scotland. ‘In unveiling this plaque, officially opening the Beinn an Turic Distillery, please, on behalf of the Scottish Government, accept our gratitude and congratulations to you and everyone else involved.’