Colin Ross was MD of Ben Nevis Whisky Distillery, I am happy to say, I knew him.
April 2024; I met his daughter in law, we had a chat, things moved forward … ROSLIN DISTILLERS – the facts; In 2019, Colin Ross reluctantly retired from Ben Nevis Distillery after 30 years as Managing Director and giving an incredible 56 years service to the Whisky Industry. At 72 years old, he still had more to offer the industry and so Roslin Distillers was born. A business was formed by Alex (Colin) W. Ross and son Aaron A R Ross, upon his retirement from the distillery, in order to release some bottlings of private casks that were held in the family name. Colin was not keen on the “Roslin” name and suggested that it be changed, but to no avail. It was formed from the first part of his wife’s name, Rosie, and the second part of Colin’s name, and was also the name of their house since 1983. When Colin took ill in early 2021, passing in May of that year, there was no way that the family were going to change the company name. Thus, they decided to not only bottle their own casks, but to purchase and release casks as single cask, single malt, Scotch Whisky.
The first of these a very special 15-year-old released as the first ever Allt A’Mhullin product. This single malt had been matured initially in a refill Bourbon cask before being re racked into a refill Sherry cask before finally being re racked into a Port cask during its 15 years of maturation and Colin had overseen this journey, so it was great to have such an incredible bottling as the first release. The one I want Allt A’Mhullin 30-year-old (One of One). Will my bank balance allow this? See; https://roslindistillers.com
ENTER THE COO. Everyone loves a Highland Cow! Roslin Distillers Logo consists of a Highland Cow or “Heilan Coo”, set within a cask end. Indeed, this combination could be representative of Highland Whisky, describing the whisky region where they are based. The Highland cows were first brought to the fields beside the distillery as a tourist attraction by Colin, so it again seemed appropriate to use this within the logo due to his passion for the animal. The first attempt at the logo saw the cow’s head with curly horns which he did not like. When asked what was wrong with it, he said did not want the curly horns as this represented the female cow, it had to have the straight horns to represent the males which were initially brought to the distillery!
I said I knew him (Paul), aye, one day in his office, while my guests were on a distillery tour, he offered me a bottle. I looked at it, thought for about ten seconds, and said aye I would take it. This was a special bottle, the 100th anniversary of a Model T Ford driving up Ben Nevis, along with a decanter. Only 100 bottles produced, I still have it – unopened. He was a salesman, he sold me. It was Impossible not to like Colin. A real gent, sadly missed. I am now working with the family on their Roslin Distilling Company, my guests (the chosen few) will have special (private) tastings in Fort William (“An Gearasdan”).
Update; Aaron Ross helped me out with a private tasting for six Norwegian whisky guests, September ’24. Down in Fort William, they had a great tasting, the first of many.
PAUL MCLEAN. MCLEAN WHISKY TOURS
