Production manager Shane Fraser explains how the spirit safe works to HRH The Duke of York
To mark the 175th anniversary of the Glenfarclas distillery, the family-owned distiller this week received a visit from His Royal Highness The Duke of York.
Date:
Fri, 09 Sep 2011
Source:
Glenfarclas
Genfarclas:
Website
His Royal Highness was accompanied by Clare Russell, Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, and the visit was hosted by director of sales George Grant, the sixth generation of the Grant family to own and manage the distillery.
The Royal visitor was given a tour of the distillery by production manager Shane Fraser, which included being shown the distillery’s new mashing and fermentation control system.
The new mashing and fermentation control system will improve efficiency and consistency of these key stages of the distilling process.
His Royal Highness was then introduced to the company’s longest-serving employee, mashman Alistair Miller, who joined the company in November 1972.
To mark the occasion of the visit during the distillery’s 175th anniversary year, His Royal Highness filled a commemorative cask with new spirit.
The cask will be matured on site at Glenfarclas until it is ready for bottling, possibly during the distillery’s bi-centenary year in 2036.
With an interest in international trade, His Royal Highness was briefed on the company’s exports to more than 50 countries worldwide by Robert Ransom, director of sales and marketing.
In 2010, exports accounted for 87% of sales, with the largest export markets by value being Germany, France, USA, Russia and Taiwan. Recently the company has established trading in China and South America.
Concluding the visit, His Royal Highness was presented with a bottle of the Glenfarclas Chairman’s Reserve, a limited edition bottling released for the distillery’s 175th anniversary.
The Glenfarclas Chairman’s Reserve is a limited edition bottling of 1296 bottles, produced from four casks filled in the 1960s. The UK RRP is £380.
Glenfarclas' commemorative cask is a sherry hogshead. J &G Grant is renowned for the use of sherry casks in the maturation of Glenfarclas.
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