Whisky From Damaged Warehouse Could Go To RAF Hangar

[John]

THE RAF was ready last night to fly to the rescue of millions of gallons of whisky stored under snow-damaged warehouse roofs.

William Grant is considering transferring casks from three huge warehouses whose roofs have suffered damage from unprecedented snowfalls to spare hangar space at RAF Kinloss in Moray. Talks have still to take place between the company, which distills, processes and stores the famous Glenfiddich and Balvenie malts and other whiskies at Dufftown, and the base.

An RAF spokeswoman confirmed last night it had been approached as a possible site for storing of casks of whisky. She said: "We have been approached and I believe we do have some space available if it is needed and if we can come to some arrangement, but at the moment it is only a potential solution."?

A spokesman for William Grant said the roofs of three warehouses at the complex had suffered damage but there is no immediate threat to their valuable contents.

He said: "We are looking for potential storage space, but we are still at the early stages looking at contingencies."?

He said discussions were under way with Moray Council, and customs and excise would need to approve the transfer of bonded goods to another site.

The difficulties facing the distillery were revealed by Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson, who said: "The whisky industry is crucial to Speyside and the extreme weather conditions are causing problems. I am pleased that both the RAF and Moray Council are able to work with William Grant to find a solution to the problem, just as in the community where people are coming together to help each other."?

Moray Council spokesman Peter Jones said: "As the local authority we are keen to minimise the impact of the weather conditions on local businesses, particularly one so important as the whisky industry.

"To that end we initiated contact between the RAF and the distillery."?

John

Source: Press & Journal