First turf cutting at Islay's new distillery

It's almost a tradition that the Bruichladdich Open Day at the Islay festival starts with sunshine. This year's Bruichladdich day was no different and it's said that Jim McEwan has a deal with the weather God's for this occasion. This year's event had a special touch because the first cut of peat was made at the location of the new Port Charlotte distillery. I witnessed this historic event and enjoyed the special atmosphere.

Already around eleven in the morning people started to gather in Port Charlotte on the site where the distillery will open in the near future. Just after twelve almost 200 hundred people were waiting for the official ceremony. First the Edmonton Pipe Band, flown over from Canada, marched up the hill in front of the existing old warehouses. Then Jim McEwan held a speech in his own special style who was later followed by John McTaggart. In his speech John explained the ins and outs of the new distillery and the fact that Bruichladdich is the fastest growing distillery in Scotland.

After John's speech Lady Caroline McTaggart performed the official part of the ceremony by cutting the first turf for the new Port Charlotte distillery and the flag for the new distillery was raised. The audience were served a dram and toasted to the new distillery which is a good thing for Islay and specially for Port Charlotte. It will provide extra jobs and more visitors will be drawn to Islay's most beautiful village.

More pictures from the ceremony at the Port Charlotte Distillery site