The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
A dram good effort: Contest launched to name new still
Ideas can be sent in via social media with a special bottle for the winner
Members of the public will have the chance to be part of whisky history thanks to a competition launched today by the Glencadam Distillery to name their new still.
Pamela Stewart, brand and social media manager for the Brechin distillery, said: “Our old still had been faithfully making our light, delicate spirit for over 50 years, but in some places on the still, the copper has become incredibly thin, and so the decision was made to source a new one.
“We commissioned Forsyth of Rothes, who have a long history of making stills for the whisky industry, to construct our new one, and this brings an opportunity for someone to think up a permanent name for the new still.”
The distillery, founded in 1825 is one of the oldest in Scotland, and has two stills that give an annual production of around 1.4 million litres of whisky.
The process of installing the new still was a complicated one, and saw the distillery roof removed to take out the old still and put in the new one, which was delivered in three sections.
It was assembled on site in an operation involving distillery staff and the team from the manufacturers.
Ms Stewart added: “This is a chance for someone to really be a part of whisky history, since even after the still reaches the end of its life it will not be thrown away but will sit somewhere in the distillery – so the name will live on.
“The competition starts today and suggestions can be submitted via the company’s social media pages using the hashtag #nameglencadamstill”.
The distillery staff will then choose the top three names, which will go to a poll – and the winner will receive a special bottle of Glencadam.
Distilleries director Robert Fleming said: “Over time the copper pot stills wear out and they have to be replaced.
“For many years the previous still has produced a spirit for maturing into our Glencadam single malts whiskies and this spirit is also much sought after for blenders, therefore it is important for our quality that the new still is an exact replica of the existing one.
“There will continue to be a link with the past as the old still is being retained on site as a visitor attraction.
“For nearly 200 years Glencadam Distillery has been producing spirit in Brechin and investing in this new copper pot still is confidence of the commitment made by Angus Dundee Distillers in their Glencadam Distillery so that production can continue for many years to come.”