Knockdhu distillery duo say cheers to the next 30 years after long service recognition
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TWO men with an exceptional record of service at Knockdhu Distillery were honoured by their employers at the end of last year.
Ian Dingwall from Huntly and James Logie from Keith have both clocked up 30 years at the distillery in the village of Knock, although Ian started a week ahead of his workmate.
One the same day, the retiral of the distillery's general manager, Derek Sinclair was also marked.
Ian and James are part of the team of six shift operators at the distillery where production is still manually monitored.
As shift operators, they undertake a whole range of duties from mashing to distilling and in the warehouse.
Their shifts are eight hours during the week or 12 hours at weekends.
To mark their long and dedicated service the men received a bottle of 35 year old whisky from the distillery, a cash sum, certificate and they will enjoy an extra day of holidays in 2022.
The distillery has a history of long service and one of the shift operators has been there for 33 years.
James continues a family tradition as his father worked at the distillery.
Mr Sinclair had worked for 25 years with Inver House, the last 15 as distillery general manager with responsibility for Pulteney, Balblair,Speyburn and Balmenach as well as Knockdhu Distillery.
He was presented with a decanter.
Knockdhu Distillery has maintained seven day production for the past 15 years and prior to that operated five days - while some distilleries ceased production.
Annually it produces 1.8 million litres of pure spirit which is enough for six million bottles of whisky.
Gordon Bruce who is manager at Knockdhu Distillery said: "We are lucky to have a devoted team of unique people who look forward to coming to their work and go home happy and satisfied.
"We are one of the few distilleries where production remains manually controlled so they don't spend their days looking at a computer but on their feet going from process to process."
One employee tracked his steps on a 12 hour shift and it came to 25,000.
