A CALL from Donald Trump to boycott Glen-fiddich whisky after the tycoon's nemesis was hailed Top Scot of the Year at an awards ceremony sponsored by the spirit firm appears to have backfired.

Social networking sites yesterday carried numerous pledges of support for the famous malt whisky, with people promising to go out and buy a bottle immediately or even buy shares in the company.

It came after Trump warned there would be commercial repercussions for distiller William Grant & Sons after Michael Forbes, the farmer who lives on Menie Estate close to Trump's Aberdeenshire golf course and who refused to sell his land to the tycoon, was honoured after a public vote at the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland awards.

The tycoon said the award an "insult" given Andy Murray's achievements at the Olympics and US Open.

Trump said: "I make a pledge that no Trump property will ever do business with Glenfiddich or William Grant & Sons. I hereby call for a boycott on drinking Glenfiddich products because there is no way a result such as this could have been made by the Scottish people. It is an insult to both Andy Murray and Scotland itself."

He said that if Glenfiddich "had integrity" there would be an investigation with claims the votes for Mr Forbes were made as part of an organised campaign.

One of the first to respond on Twitter was renowned Scottish playwright David Greig who also took a swipe at Mr Trump's fight against an offshore wind farm near his golf course. He said: "Right, that's me buying a bottle today. Raise a toast to offshore wind. Slainte!"

The owners of Glenfiddich said the awards had been established 15 years ago with it clear from the outset the winners would be chosen by public vote.