A former Spitfire pilot who recently turned 100 has become the 100th person to join the members’ club of Benbecula Distillery, after sampling its new-make spirit while celebrating his birthday.
The distillery said its team decided honorary membership of the Benbecula 2024 Society was the “ideal gift” when Joe McCulloch pronounced himself “truly impressed” after sampling its new-make single malt spirit as part of his birthday celebrations in Edinburgh.
It noted that Mr McCulloch, who is from Edinburgh and now lives in England, came across the whisky by chance on a visit with members of his family to the recently opened Scottish Gantry spirits and wine shop in the Scottish capital.
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Kevin Moore, who owns the Scottish Gantry business, is supporting the marketing efforts of Benbecula Distillery, which started production in June and last month launched a limited-edition release of its first 150 filled casks.
Mr McCulloch said: “While celebrating my 100th birthday in Edinburgh, I happened upon the new Scottish Gantry store and the owner, Kevin, graciously invited me to sample a new spirit from the Benbecula Distillery.
“To me, the blend was a perfect harmony of light peatiness, intertwined with subtle, nuanced flavours and I was truly impressed.”
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He added: “You can imagine my absolute delight when, following this encounter, I was honoured with an honorary membership in the Benbecula 2024 Society. As one of the first people on mainland Scotland to taste this spirit, it is fitting that I am now officially member number 100.”
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Mr McCulloch flew Hurricane fighters and Harvard aircraft while serving with the Royal Air Force in Africa, the Middle East and India during World War II. After the war, as a reservist with the 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron, he piloted Spitfires from RAF Turnhouse, on the outskirts of the Scottish capital, before converting his skills to fly Britain’s earliest jet fighters, the Meteor and the Vampire. In civilian life, he worked as a civil engineer, designing bridges for British Railways.
Benbecula Distillery founder and owner Angus MacMillan, said: “It is a tremendous pleasure to welcome Joe as the 100th member of the Benbecula 2024 Society. From the glowing review he gave after sampling our new-make spirit, he is obviously someone who knows a great dram when he tastes it.
“Here at the distillery, we’ve all raised a glass to Joe to toast his birthday.”
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