Ballindalloch Whisky - You Need to Wait

New Highland Malt

Speyside in the Highlands of Scotland has the largest concentration of whisky distilleries in the country. They have just made room for another one. As well as the distilleries, another famous landmark in the area is Ballindalloch Castle, home of the Macpherson-Grant family since 1546. The family has now opened Ballindalloch Single Estate Distillery. A wise move considering the terra firma (and aqua). The family say it's a return to distilling, but this time as Scotland's first single estate distillery. Water and barley — the ingredients — comes solely from the estate.

A Dram for 2025

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall — or the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay as they are known in Scotland — paid a visit to formally open the distillery this month and help promote this new British business venture — sealing a couple of the whisky barrels that will be left to mature.

You can tour the distillery now, which has been praised for the sympathetic use of materials in a historic part of the estate — look at those splendid copper stills below — but it will be a few years before you can order a Ballindalloch from your favourite bar.

Prince Charles is as immaculate as ever. Some say he looks awkward in a kilt. I don't see it, though I think the hemline has dropped a little. What is the tartan he's wearing? Is it the Rothesay? I know he's entitled to wear several.