The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Cheers to Red Lichtie
AN ANGUS town was given proof yesterday that one of its wartime icons is alive and well — at least in spirit.
Arbroath’s most tangible contribution to the UK’s effort during the Second World War was the Red Lichtie, a Spitfire paid for by its citizens which had its maiden flight in 1942.
Now a special commemorative whisky, produced by Tullibardine in Blackford, has been launched at the Meadowbank Inn.
Artist Ray Will’s painting of the Arbroath Spitfire graces the bottle and packaging, after designer Robin Kennedy and Alistair Gibb of Meikleour firm Miniature Collectives took the design and adapted it specially for the product.
The distillery’s brand manager Bob Masson said: “We produced a Bell Rock whisky last year which has sold really well and Harry Simpson from the Year of the Light committee came back asking us to commemorate the Spitfire Red Lichtie, which is a great honour.”
“We produced a 1,000-bottle special edition for Bomber Command recently and the British ServicesAntarctic Expedition of this year, which is raising money for Help For Heroes.”
Arbroath businessman Mr Simpson chaired last year’s Year of the Light celebrations inArbroath, which marked the bicentenary of the Bell Rock Lighthouse.
He said: “Since the Year of the Light celebrations, we’ve had a lot of activity among groups in the town to promote Arbroath.
We did a lot of work with the distillery for the Bell Rock whisky and we’re really seeing the benefit of all the hard work our community groups are doing. It’s great the Meadowbank Inn is the first to sell this whisky and we have representatives from the community here to see the launch.”
Mr Masson added: “Robin Kennedy is the designer for Miniature Collectives and his brother Ian is one of the RAF’s foremost designers, so it all ties in with a great product and great design.
“The casks selected for the Red Lichtie were chosen by John Black, our distillery manager.
“John is Scotland’s top master distiller – he’s now 52 years in the trade and third generation.
“He picks the casks from our distillery, and that’s why we use an ‘aged oak’label.”
Top hotels such as the Old Course Hotel and the Fairmont St Andrews all use Mr Black’s single malt for their own-label offerings
Red Lichtie, Arbroath’s Spitfire Group has organised a number of celebratory events throughout the year to mark this special anniversary and to also celebrate Arbroath’s links with the armed forces.
Italso commemorates the fundraising efforts of the people of Arbroath and remember how the town coped during the Second World War.