Speyside coopers help mark landmark whisky anniversary at special event at Scottish Parliament; MSPs and ministers also present at Holyrood event
A LANDMARK whisky anniversary has been marked at a special event at the Scottish Parliament – with a little help from Speyside coopers.
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) last night celebrated the 525th anniversary of the first recorded dram by hosting the event at Holyrood.
Ministers and MSPs gathered to mark the occasion and were joined by SWA chief executive Karen Betts.
The first known mention of Scotch whisky distillation is credited to Lindores Abbey in Newburgh, Fife. A note in the 1494 Exchequer Rolls details that by order of King James IV, ‘eight bols malt’ be supplied to Friar John Cor to produce ‘aqua vitae’ – the water of life.
Amongst those in attendance were Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Bruce Crawford MSP who tried their hand at the art of whisky barrel making with a little help from coopers from Speyside Cooperage.
Chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association Karen Betts said: “Scotch has moved with the times. Scotland’s national drink is now our most successful global export, shipped to destinations which were only just being discovered by the explorers of the 15th century.
“Now we are proud that Scotch whisky is the hugely successful export that it is. Over the last 525 years, the industry has not rested on its laurels and Scotch whisky companies now produce some of the most globally recognised consumer brands.
“Only a couple of months ago, we marked a record number of visits to Scotch whisky distilleries. Tourists from all over the world visit distilleries across Scotland to learn about the story of Scotch and of Scotland.”
Scotch whisky tourism saw record numbers of visitors in 2018, with more than two million visits to whisky distilleries from tourists for the first time. The SWA’s annual survey revealed visits were up 6.1 per cent year-on-year and 56 per cent more than in 2010.
