Tomintoul Distillery named as Official Spirit and sponsor of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team
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THE rugged beauty of the Cairngorms is home to many Scotch whisky producers but danger also lurks on its mountains.
That is why one local single malt distillery, Tomintoul, has become the official partner of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team as it celebrates its 60th anniversary year.
This is the team's largest sponsorship to date and is a welcome boost ahead of another busy summer season ahead.
Tomintoul Distillery lies at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.
As Official Spirit of the rescue team, it will support an organisation that relies almost entirely on grants and donations to help keep their team safe and equipment up to date.
Distilleries Director and Master Distiller, Robert Fleming, said: “The local area is part of Tomintoul’s brand fabric – the natural environment, fresh air and pure water from the Ballantruan Spring all add to the uniquely smooth and mellow spirit the distillery is known and loved for.
“Our team has the pleasure of working within the Cairngorms National Park and use much of their downtime to explore the area.
"We want to share our wonderful region with people from all over the world but working here year-round means we’ve also experienced how treacherous and unpredictable the weather can be in this incredibly beautiful area."
Mr Fleming said the distillery was passionate about supporting the rescue team.
“The hardworking team – made up entirely of volunteers - offer up their time, skill and courage for our community and now we’re proud to be doing our bit.”
The team is made up of around 40 highly trained volunteers who provide assistance to injured or lost persons in and around the mountains.
The vast area they cover includes the northern Cairngorms, Ben Alder and areas of the Monadhliath Mountains to the east side of Loch Ness – including the area surrounding Tomintoul Distillery.
In the first year of the partnership, Tomintoul Single Malt will work with the rescue team to identify areas where support is needed most.
Funds donated will go towards much needed kit and supplies, as well as enhancing training exercises and education opportunities for the dedicated team and their supporters.
Deputy team leader, Willie Anderson, said: “We cannot believe how fortunate we are to have such a well-known and historic brand such as Tomintoul as a partner.
“We are certain we will to be able to work well together over the coming years, with a benefit for both parties and those going to the mountains for adventure.
“As we celebrate our 60th anniversary we feel confident we can continue to provide a world class rescue service for many years to come.
"Without doubt, support from Tomintoul will go a long way to underpinning our rescue work.”
The Cairngorm team is one of the busiest in the country, with accidents, injuries and avalanches throughout the year.
Willie added: “The team is always happy to offer assistance, however large or small, to those in difficulty.”
