FORMER Red Hot Chilli Pipers frontman, Stuart Cassells, has been announced as the new general manager of Glenturret Distillery, home of The Famous Grouse Experience, in Crieff.
The prolific piper who has travelled the world playing the bagpipes, medically-retired as a professional musician in 2011, leaving behind his beloved pipes to retrain for a career in business.
His segue into Scotland’s business community, and passion for brand Scotland, led him into the whisky industry working in Edrington Group’s brands team, and to his recent appointment as general manager of Scotland’s oldest working distillery, Glenturret.
Stuart commented: “I am really delighted to have been appointed as general manager of Glenturret Distillery, home of The Famous Grouse Experience and one of Scotland’s best visitor attractions. I am really looking forward to working with our magnificent team here to develop its future as a major tourism destination and one of Scotland’s very rare artisan whisky producers.”
“What we do at Glenturret is very special, and one of the only distilleries in Scotland where visitors can see whisky being produced by hand, in the traditional way. Having travelled the world as a bagpiper, and been welcomed by a great many countries, I look forward to reciprocating those warm welcomes to visitors to our beautiful distillery from around the globe.”
Stepping out amidst the rolling hills of Perthshire, you might be mistaken for thinking Stuart’s celebrity filled days are over. However, just weeks into his new role, he stepped up to play host to the Earl and Countess of Strathearn on their first official visit to the area, and has also formally opened Scotland’s Year of Homecoming 2014 Bannockburn Live celebrations at Pipefest at the end of June.
His team are currently tuning up for their next role, as home to The Famous Grouse Experience, and the official whisky provider of the Commonwealth Games, where over one million spectators are expected to descend in the coming weeks, hunting for new world records and inspirational moments. And, with a clutch of world records of its own to show off, thousands of visitors to Glenturret Distillery can be guaranteed a holiday snap with a statue of Towser, the world’s Greatest Mouser, as well as the world’s largest bottle of whisky.
Stuart gets the last word though: “It’s a busy role, but one for which – I believe – I most definitely have the puff.”
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For further information on this news release, please contact Tricia Fox, Volpa, Tel: 07989 955039 or 01738 658187, Email: t.fox@volpa.co.uk
Notes to Editors
About Glenturret Distillery and The Famous Grouse Experience • The Famous Grouse Experience is located at Scotland’s oldest working distillery – Glenturret. Originally established as a single malt distillery in 1775, today The Famous Grouse Experience is the most visited distillery in Scotland (welcoming an average of 100,000 visitors every year). • The distillery offers the opportunity to learn how a single malt is made in the traditional way, as well as learning how some of the Glenturret single malt is then blended along with other grain and malt whiskies to create The Famous Grouse, the No. 1 whisky in the UK. • Opening Hours 9am – 6pm. Three tours are currently available: The Experience Tour (includes two whisky tastes), The Seasonal Tour (includes five whisky tastes) and the Taste of Scotland Tour (includes a private whisky tasting with food). Tours start from £10. Children under 12 go free. The first tour is at 9.30am and last tour at 4.30pm. • For more information please visit www.thefamousgrouse.com or call 01764 656565
About The Famous Grouse (www.thefamousgrouse.com) • The Famous Grouse is the No. 1 whisky in UK and No. 4 standard blended whisky worldwide (IWSR data 2012). • The Famous Grouse has been the best-selling whisky in Scotland since 1980. • The Famous Grouse is exported to over 100 countries. • Created in 1896 by founder Matthew Gloag, it was originally called The Grouse Brand. The brand became so popular that on August 12th 1905 it was renamed The Famous Grouse.
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Contact: Tricia Fox
Phone: 01738658187
Email: t.fox@volpa.co.uk
Website: http://www.volpa.co.uk
