THE home of malt whisky will soon be producing ­something a bit more exotic with the opening of Scotland's first rum distillery.

Dark Matter Distillers aim to produce up to 3,000 bottles a month after construction of their factory in Banchory, Aberdeenshire is completed. Managing director Jim Ewen, 45, said the distillery may even achieve the alcoholic equivalent of coals to Newcastle by exporting the 40-45 per cent ABV rum to the Caribbean.

He said: "Some other companies import rum from the Caribbean, rebottle it and sell it to the British market. But we are hoping to be able to export it for the first time, and who knows, maybe back to the Caribbean. We're going to create an entirely new export market for Scotland."