An Angus farm steading is scheduled to open as a “field to bottle” visitor centre in October following an investment of £150,000 and support from the rural development scheme.
The Jarron family at Hatton of Ogilvy Farm, who launched Scotland’s first potato vodka on the market in 2015, say they are opening the centre in response to demand for farm tours and will use the financial support to teach future generations about rural life and the provenance of their food.
Visitors will be shown round the Ogilvy Vodka farm and distilling process on a tractor and trailer, before completing their visit in a tasting room.
Graeme Jarron said: “With the launch of the V&A in Dundee and around 100,000 people flocking to visit our neighbours at Glamis Castle each year, there is a fantastic opportunity to share the story of Ogilvy farm and the vodka and help make Angus an exciting destination area for tourists and locals alike.”
He added that the business received funding from Angus LEADER Local Action Group (LAG), and as part of the funding package, has committed to investing £4,000 a year until 2028 into three local community groups: Charleston Playgroup, Glamis Primary School Committee and the Royal Highland Educational Trust.
Angus LEADER LAG chairman Dougie Pond said: “We were impressed by Ogilvy’s innovation in the diversification of its operations to open up the distillery and to launch a vodka visitor centre and its drive to contribute to wider tourism in the area, all while supporting the local community with a 10-year investment plan.”
Ogilvy vodka is distributed to independent bottle shops, farm shops and delis throughout the UK and the new centre will create three new jobs.
