Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) is raising a toast to Edradour Distillery which has earmarked all profits from a special bottling to go to the life-saving service.
One of the country’s best known single malt producers has created a special limited-edition bottling of 10-year-old malt from three of Edradour’s sherry butts maturing in the Perthshire hills.
And proceeds from the 2,485 collectable bottles of SCAA-labelled malt, which went on sale this week, could raise more than £56,500 for the air ambulance.
Edradour Distillery owner Andrew Symington said this week’s launch of the charity whisky was a long-held personal ambition.
“I witnessed first-hand the amazing work that SCAA does two years ago when they were called to a builder suffering a heart attack while working nearby in our remote part of the country above Pitlochry,” he said.
“Sadly, they were unable to save him, but their speed, agility in landing and utter professionalism impressed me so much that I vowed Edradour Distillery would do something to help them in the future,” he said.
Another air ambulance call out to a nearby farmer and a personal frightening heart attack earlier this year prompted Andrew into action and maturing casks were identified for the fundraising bottling.
“We’ve supported various charities over the years but there can be few as deserving as SCAA when you live in rural Scotland,” he explained.
“It’s a vital lifeline for our rural communities and we’re delighted that the ‘water of life’ will go towards raising funds for the saving of lives.”
Edradour’s SCAA whisky has been bottled at 46%, retaining many unique features. It is crafted in copper stills using Scottish grains and water from the nearby Edradour Burn.
Described by Andrew as “liquid Christmas”, the tasting notes include sugared almonds, dried fruits and matured Jerez sherry, with each sip leaving a long warming mellow afterglow.
Andrew, exports Edradour single malt to a global market, with record production topping 300,000 litres last year. And he predicts the 2,485 SCAA-labelled bottles will sell within a month.
“This unique single malt will be snapped up by Edradour followers, whisky collectors and SCAA supporters as well as those who just love a good dram,” he said. “It’s a beautiful malt and it’s being sold exclusively as a fundraiser for this amazing charity.”
Andrew said Edradour, which marks its 200th anniversary next year, plans to produce a limited special cask bottling for SCAA each year and hopes their initiative might encourage other distillers to do likewise.
“The whisky industry employs hundreds of staff at remote locations all across Scotland,” he said. “No one ever knows where on when illness or injury can strike and rural employers like us should support SCAA to ensure that critical lifeline is there when needed.”
SCAA Corporate Partnerships Manager Andrew Kernohan said the generosity of Edradour – an iconic Scottish brand – would make a significant impact on the charity and undoubtedly help save and improve lives in the future.
“Our ambition is that no one in Scotland should die because help can’t reach them in time, but we can’t achieve that without the support of the people of Scotland and the huge generosity and innovative fundraising of companies such as Edradour,” he said.
“Edradour is one of the first Scottish businesses to commit to helping us achieve our ambition and we look forward to working with them in the future.
“Andrew Symington’s own experience of SCAA has reinforced his admiration of the charity and prompted this amazing fundraiser which we both hope will serve as a call to action for distilleries throughout Scotland.
“We can’t thank Edradour enough and hopefully all those enjoying a dram of this special malt by their fireside this Christmas will find it tastes all the sweeter for knowing they have helped support our life-saving service.”
Edradour’s fundraising SCAA whisky can be bought online at: https://www.edradour.com/Edradour-10YO-Air-Ambulance-Charity-Bottling
