Good turn for Tamdhu whisky

THE design agency behind work for Buchanan Galleries, Marks & Spencer and Sony has been drafted in to help relaunch one of the oldest distilleries on Speyside.

Ian Macleod Distillers – which also makes Chieftain’s, Isle of Skye and Smokehead – has brought in Glasgow-based Good Creative to devise a “modern brand identity” for its malt whisky, Tamdhu.

Ian Macleod bought the Tamdhu distillery at Knockando, in Aberlour, last year for an “eight-figure sum” from Edrington Group, the firm behind brands including Famous Grouse, Highland Park and The Macallan.

Broxburn-based Ian Macleod, which is owned by the family of managing director Leonard Russell, had bought the Glengoyne distillery, north of Glasgow, from Edrington in 2003 and has since doubled sales of its single malt.

Now it aims to do the same with Tamdhu and will relaunch the distillery and its single malt next year.

Tamdhu, which means “the little dark hill” in Gaelic, was built in 1897 by distillery engineer and architect Charles Doig and was mothballed in 2010 by Edrington.

Good Creative directors Keith Forbes, Chris Lumsden and Darren Adams, who is leading the project, visited the distillery before they began work on the relaunch.

Lumsden said: “Tamdhu was one of the first Speyside distilleries. It was founded by a consortium of local entrepreneurs who put a lot of money into building what, at the time, was a cutting-edge facility.

“It was a highly ambitious venture to produce the finest whisky they possibly could using every modern technique available to them. It’s that spirit of entrepreneurialism and innovation that we want to reflect in the new brand image.”

Iain Weir, Ian Macleod’s marketing director, said: “Good came highly recommended and has delivered on its promises.”

Good Creative – whose other clients include Nokia, ScottishPower and Whyte & Mackay – also did design work on the relaunch of Glengoyne whisky.