Manager and team formally take over day-to-day operations at GlenWyvis Distillery near Dingwall
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A FRESH milestone has been reached in the development of the world’s first community-owned distillery – after the manager and his team formally took control.
Master distiller Duncan Tait and his young team have taken over responsibility for day-to-day operations after the GlenWyvis Distillery’s founder, John F Mckenzie, handed over the symbolic keys.
In the past three years, GlenWyvis near Dingwall has been transformed from an idea to a fully operational distillery producing both single malt whisky and craft Scottish gin.
Having overseen the two crowdfunded share offers to date, which attracted almost 4000 investors and raised more than £3.6 million, Mr Mckenzie has decided now is the right time to hand over the day-to-day running of the business to Mr Tait and his local team.
Having run the business as a volunteer since 2017, Mckenzie will continue to serve on both the distillery finance team and the board of GlenWyvis Community Benefit Society, which oversees the business from a strategic and compliance perspective.
“We have come a long, long way in the past three years, and I think we have exceeded everyone’s expectations including our own,” said Mr Mckenzie. “The business continues to go from strength-to-strength and I’d like to take this opportunity to convey my sincere thanks to my patient wife, my family and friends, the GlenWyvis board, and all our members and followers without whom my idea would not have risen out of the ground.
“This is a great legacy and success story for Dingwall and, arguably, the most important day to date was when Duncan came to GlenWyvis as the master distiller.
“To get someone with his experience, knowledge and skills was a genuine coup for us – and set the project on course for the next ten years. That’s why, with the distillery now fully operational, I’m delighted to be able to hand over the management to Duncan in full confidence that we have created something that he can take forward successfully.”
“We are in a very good place – as a business, as a team – and I’d like to thank John for all his hard work in getting this incredible project to where we are today,” said Mr Tait. “With his continued support and the continued support of the board, I’m very excited about where the journey for GlenWyvis will lead in the coming years.”
