Cheers to 'dram fine' Tain event

WHEN an Easter Ross distillery opened its doors to visitors to mark a major milestone, nearly 2000 people showed up to toast its success.

Glenmorangie, on the outskirts of Tain, marked the 175th anniversary of its single malt Scotch whisky with the open weekend.

Spread across two days, the event allowed visitors a glimpse into the unique distilling process and the company’s rich heritage.

Alongside experts, there was also a chance to taste its award-winning drams. Distillery manager Andy MacDonald described it as "a monumental year for Glenmorangie".

Visitors had a chance to check out the towering copper stills, renowned as the tallest in Scotland. Some were also given the chance to fill a cask and, for the first time, learn the age-old method of rolling casks from the Men of Tain, masters of the art.

Tain Pipe Band helped add an extra dimension to the open days while expert mixologists from one of the world’s leading cocktail bars demonstrated how the trend for cocktails can accentuate particular aspects of the single malt.

Glenmorangie’s work with the Marine Conservation Society and Heriot-Watt University to bring oyster reefs back to the Dornoch Firth after a century’s absence was also highlighted.

Some of the oysters bound for the Firth were on display, while tours of Glenmorangie’s new anaerobic digestion plant were on offer for the first time. Together with newly established oyster reefs – renowned for their abilities to filter water – the plant will purify all the water the distillery releases into the firth.

Falconry displays, face painting and a display from Glenmorangie’s partner, the National Museum of Scotland, helped to celebrate Glenmorangie’s ancient provenance.