Chivas Whisky Warehouse Roofs Collapse

[John]

The roofs of 21 football pitch-sized whisky warehouses where more than 100million gallons of malt whisky are stored have collapsed under the weight of snow.

Many of the valuable casks lay hidden beneath metal roofing sheets last night in the Chivas Regal brand buildings of the French company Pernod Ricard, which also owns the Strathisla Distillery at Keith.

The company was said to be considering spraying de-icing chemicals that are normally used on airport runways and using ton-sized heaters in their battle against the ice.

A source close to the company said the roofing had given way in 20 buildings at the company's 120-acre maturation site called Malcolmburn at Mulben, near Keith.

He said the roof of another warehouse in Alexandra Road had also caved in.

He said: "The ice has frozen on the roof and it can't go down the drain pipes and get away. It just lies there. The weight of the fresh snow just adds to it."?

A company spokesman last night said the damage was still being assessed and he could not confirm the number of buildings damaged.

He added: "We are experiencing issues with some of our warehouse roofs under the weight of snow and ice.

"There have been no injuries and no spirit loss has been detected. As a precaution Chivas Brothers' two major maturation sites in Speyside (Mulben and Keith) have been closed to day-to-day operations until the weather abates."?


John

Source: Press & Journal