End of an Era at Bunnahabhain

The following story and picture were sent to me by Mark Unsworth of Islay Studios who was present at a special event at the Bunnahabhain Distillery.

Today marked the last day of employment at Bunnahabhain distillery of the very popular stillman Victor MacLellan. Victor started work on 26th May 1969 so completed five decades of service seeing several ownership changes of the distillery in that period. As John MacLellan the distillery manager commented "Concord made it's first flight that year and is now in a museum" so Victor has out flown her and seen many changes at Bunnahabhain in that time.

Victor was presented with a framed picture of Bunnahabhain Bay given by his work colleagues and a very special bottle of Bunnahabhain whisky. A blend from a cask from each of the decades that Victor had worked there, the bottle specially labelled as Victors Dram, bottle 1 of 1 with a photo of him at work on the rear label.

So does he drink it or keep it, well he has his retirement to ponder that one. Victors wife Flora Ann was presented with a bouquet for managing to get him into work for 6.00 am every morning ! A gift from Bunnahabhain's owners Burn Stewart Distillers to be presented by the company's master blender however didn't quite make it as the Glasgow flight couldn't land because of the mist, so that's one for the future.

Stillman Victor MacLellan and distillery manager John MacLellan

Victor's Dram

Tag: bunnahabhain stillman