PR: Macduff feiert 60-jähriges Jubiläum
Macduff ist eine der jüngeren Destillerien in Schottland und eine der ersten, bei der nach dem Weltkrieg die Produktion gestartet wurde. Eröffnet wurde Macduff am 01.09.1960. Bei Macduff wird die Marke Deveron produziert.
Im Überblick
- Eröffnet: 01.09.1960
- Lage: Banff, Highlands
- Eigentümer: John Dewar & Sons (Bacardi)
- Marke: Deveron, Produkte: 12yo und 18yo
- Webseite: dewars.com
- Weitere Destillerien von John Dewar & Sons: Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie und Royal Brackla
(Pressemitteilung, Quercus Communications)
DIAMOND FOR DEVERON: MACDUFF DISTILLERY CELEBRATES 60 YEARS IN WHISKY BUSINESS
Banff, Banffshire, August 25, 2020 – The team at Banff’s Macduff Distillery is celebrating this week as it marks 60 years since the distillery’s official opening on September 1, 1960.
Founded by four Glasgow businessmen and built on what was formerly the gardens for Duff House estate on the banks of the river Deveron, it was one of the first single malt distilleries to go into operation following the Second World War. As government controls on the distilling industry – including malt and grain rationing – were lifted in 1959, Macduff was part of a new era of distilleries which began opening in the 1960s, built to meet the resulting increase in demand for whisky.
The Scotch whisky distillery which produces well-loved whisky, THE DEVERON® and is used in the blend for WILLIAM LAWSON’S®,has been part of Bacardi for almost thirty years. A family-owned spirits company with 158 years of history, Bacardi operates five distilleries across Scotland – Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie, Royal Brackla, and Macduff – nurturing and respecting the heritage of each, to produce top quality drinks which are rooted in the traditions of the local areas.
Back in 1960, Macduff Distillery’s first manager was James Nicol who oversaw the bottling of its first whisky in 1968 – a five-year-old, labelled ‘Macduff Pure Highland Malt Scotch Whisky’.
Now, Jamie Winfield holds the prestigious Macduff Distillery Manager title. He says: “The distillery’s history and its importance to the local area is always front of mind when I walk in each morning. It’s a real privilege to be part of its past, present and future as we build on generations of craftsmanship and skill, alongside the very latest technology, to create incredible whiskies that are enjoyed around the world. This week, both here at the distillery and with our 7,000-strong global Bacardi family, we’re taking a moment to celebrate a successful 60 years in the whisky business for Macduff – here’s to many more fantastic years to come!”
When the Macduff Distillery was designed, great care was taken to use the most up-to-date technology for the time to ensure it was as energy efficient as possible. Today, that focus on sustainability and technology remains key for the distillery, and for Jamie, making further improvements to its green credentials is top of the agenda.
For Bacardi, doing the right thing when it comes to the environment and the local communities surrounding its distilleries is essential. Jamie continues: “With the coronavirus crisis, recent months have thrown many challenges our way, but I have an amazing team and we’ve adapted quickly. At the same time, it’s been especially rewarding to make a genuine difference for our local community in the fight against COVID-19 by producing hand sanitiser.”
In total, alongside its sister distilleries and Glasgow operations centre, Macduff Distillery has produced more than 15,000 litres of hand sanitiser over the past month, which has been donated to frontline workers including the Scottish Ambulance Association, Scottish Fire and Rescue, and more locally, the Banff Ambulance Service, Macduff Fire Service, Buckie Ambulance Service and numerous local care homes, hospitals and medical centres. Macduff is one of 14 Bacardi production sites worldwide which have produced over 1.5 million litres for donation to local communities.
60 years of history
Based in Glasgow, Jacqueline Seargeant, Global Heritage Manager for Bacardi, is responsible for archiving the rich history of Bacardi’s distilleries in Scotland. She comments, “At Bacardi we have 158 years of history, going right back to the founding of the company in Cuba in 1862. Recording and sharing those stories is what my team and I do every day. I’ve loved delving into the archives ahead of the Macduff 60th and uncovering the news cuttings, photographs and even video footage which documents the distillery’s past. It was a significant moment for the local area when Macduff opened its doors. There was an official opening on 1st September 1960 which was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, Colonel Sir George W. Abercromby 8th Baronet D.S.O, as well as local business people, members of the whisky industry and the local press. That’s the date we mark our anniversary each year, as it was the moment Macduff distillery was officially ‘in business’. This period was the dawning of a new era in distilling processes. Production at Macduff was simple and compact, focusing on energy saving techniques such as lagged pot stills which were also steam heated and the use of gravity instead of pumps. It’s fantastic to see that respect for the distillery’s beautiful natural surroundings still firmly in place today. From changes in ownership to adapting to changes in technology and whisky production techniques, it’s been a fascinating journey for Macduff over the last six decades, and I have no doubt there will be many more amazing stories to come.”
