The King Officially Opens Stannergill Distillery

On Wednesday 29th July we were delighted to welcome His Majesty King Charles III to officially open Stannergill Distillery. It is hard to believe it has actually happened – if you had said to us six years ago that this is what we would be doing we would have laughed along with you. The King arrived and was piped into the building by Glenn, our apprentice distiller, before taking a full tour of the distillery.  Watching him walk through the spaces — The Grain Store Restaurant, The Atrium, The StillHouse — and seeing it all through fresh eyes was something quite extraordinary. He described the transformation of the mill as “wonderful” and that made us very happy!

What made the day so very special was that we were able to share it with so many of the people who have been part of this journey. The King took the time to meet them all, and it felt right that they were there — because Stannergill has never been just our story.

And then there were our family and friends — the people who have listened to us talk about this mill for years, who believed in us when the project felt impossibly big, and who have cheered us on every step of the way. Having them all there, in the building, on that day, surrounded by everything we have all worked so hard for — that is the part that is hardest to put into words.

In one of the most memorable moments of the day, His Majesty rolled up his sleeves and personally filled an Oloroso sherry cask with Stannergill new make spirit. That cask is now laid down in the distillery, quietly maturing into what will one day be a very special single malt Scotch whisky — one that belongs to the King himself.

When we mentioned that it would be a few years before it was ready to drink, His Majesty smiled and delivered the line of the day: “I hope I’m still alive to taste it.”

To bring the visit to a close, The King unveiled a commemorative plaque in our Atrium. Every one of our guests was lined up along the grand staircase that circles the Atrium, looking down as the plaque was revealed. Family, friends, craftspeople, historians, investors, supporters — all of the people who have been part of this story, gathered together in the very building they helped to save. It was one of those moments where you look around the room and feel completely overwhelmed by gratitude.

Dunnet Bay Distillers Ltd
Dunnet
Thurso, Caithness KW14 8XD
United Kingdom