Doctor returning to Highland roots with distillery as project in castle grounds takes shape

● Husband and wife’s search for project led to decision to produce whisky and gin

The Seamstress’s Room at striking Dunrobin Castle, on the east coast of the Northern Highlands overlooking the Moray Firth, is said to be haunted.

But visitors to the attraction will be pleased to hear that it is set to be home to spirits of a more appealing nature as it gears up to house a fully functioning whisky and gin distillery in its grounds.

The 189-room castle dates back to the early 1300s, is owned by the Sutherland family, one of Scotland’s oldest clans, and resources for the company’s products including foraged botanicals will come from their land and the Dunrobin farm.

The business is being launched by Lizzie Sutherland, the granddaughter of the Countess of Sutherland and the daughter of Lord and Lady Strathnaver, along with her husband Boban Costin.

“We’ve been on this journey for over two years,” she explains, with planning permission to build the distillery, visitor facilities, a tasting room, shop and bonded warehouse now obtained.