Grantown's latest distillery has already created new whisky record
Scotland's latest distillery has created a new world-record which has been 70 years in the making.
The owners of the Cairn Distillery on the outskirts of Grantown has produced the oldest ever blended whisky.
The revelation came after the business was given the go-ahead to sell and serve alcohol at its home at Craggan.
Highland Licensing Board members approved both on-sales and off-sales licences for The Cairn Distillery at its latest meeting.
Andy Kitchin, The Cairn Distillery visitor experience manager, told board members in Inverness at the hearing: "We are looking to build the name worldwide and create five-star visitor attraction visitor tours.
"We will be explaining the knowledge of the whisky-making process, showing people around the distillery culminating with the tastings of the drams that we have on site which have been specially made for us while we wait 12 years for the single malt to be ready.
"We also have our bistro where we are offering some of the finest local produce and again potentially pairing this with whiskies. We will also be offering wines and beers but of course whisky is our main thing."
Board member Duncan Macpherson asked what whiskies would be served if the first Cairn single malts were not available until around 2034.
Mr Kitchin explained Gordon and Macphail are maturation experts and said: "We are very fortunate to be in the position of holding onto stock from many other distilleries from throughout Scotland for a great deal of time.
"Some of owners and directors have put together a blended malt range called CRN57 ranges from a 12-year-old, 18-year-old, 25-year-old, 30-year-old and a 57-year-old which was the oldest blended malt in the world but we went one better and put a 70-year-old together as well.
"What will be available for the off-sales will be just those bottles. The on-sales will obviously be for people wanting a drink with their meals and for tastings."
Mr Macpherson said: "A whisky distillery tour is on the to do list of so many visitors who come to Scotland and this is an exciting venture which is very much tourism led business so it is nothing that is going to cause problems with off-sales...
"I wish you very well with the venture."
Board members had earlier been told that the distillery owners Gordon and Macphail have substantial experience within the whisky industry of operating premises.
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The firm has been given the go-ahead for on-sales at the distillery from Monday to Sunday 10am to 11.59pm and for off-sales from 10am to 10pm.
There were no objections.