Inverness Caley Thistle and Tomatin Distillery strike up a dram good partnership with single malt whisky to mark Scottish league football club’s 30th anniversary
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Like old friends sharing a dram by the fireside, Tomatin Distillery and Inverness Caledonian Thistle sit easily together.
The local institutions have been a natural coupling since Caley Thistle first formed 30 years ago. With deep connections to both, the late great Jock MacDonald - a titan of north football - made sure of that.
To mark the football club’s special anniversary it is fitting, then, that Tomatin has stepped up to partner ICTFC with the release of two exclusive commemorative whiskies.
One is a 30-year-old single malt, limited to just 10 bottles and priced at £1000 per bottle; the other, is a 21-year-old single malt, limited to 94 bottles costing £300 each.
The partnership celebrates that 30-year milestone, but also provides a welcome cash boost for the club in a time of need.
Caley Thistle, led by financial consultant, benefactor and former chairman Alan Savage, is in the process of safeguarding its future by securing new owners through the administration process.
Amid this resetting of finances and leadership values, the latest Tomatin/Caley Thistle collaboration is symbolic of the club’s desire to return to its community roots, bringing local firms and fans back behind it.
From a pre-insolvency era of failed concert companies and property deals, Alan is determined to renew bonds with the local business community, while rousing the club faithful in good numbers again.
Hospitality suites have sold out for the first time in years and the buzz is back within the local community. Alan hopes it will prove infectious to local businesses, with supporters keen to snap up the special whiskies.
“I’ve been saying to everyone I speak to that we’re a football club again,” Alan said. “A football club run with common sense.
“I’ve known Stephen Bremner, Tomatin’s managing director, for many years. Stephen has been very positive in his approach to what I’m trying to do with the club.
“Tomatin is the biggest supporting business to embrace us since I took financial control. It is very significant what he has done, very helpful and reassuring to me.
“With the positive, attacking football they are seeing, we’ve been winning back our supporters.
“People are talking positively again about Caley Thistle. With the lead of Tomatin and others, I’m hoping that local businesses will get on board again as we move forward to make sure the city gets the football club it deserves.
“Our collaboration with Tomatin is a genuine celebration of our shared Highland heritage and the community spirit that underpins it.”
Jock MacDonald, the first chairman of ICT and the former managing director of Tomatin, was a larger-than-life character.
Previously chairman of Inverness Thistle, Jock guided the merged Inverness club into the Scottish leagues in 1994 before becoming life president.
With expertise and experience drawn service as an SFA Council member from 1972, Jock was ideally placed to guide the club through the complex selection process into a new era.
What followed was a fantastic adventure, from the famous “Caley Thistle go ballistic” win against Celtic, up the leagues to the Premiership, Scottish Cup glory and European football.
Stephen Bremner, Tomatin’s MD, reflected: “We have a long standing association with ICT, with our former managing director Jock MacDonald playing a pivotal role in the club being formed back in 1994.
“Jock was a great supporter of football in the Highlands and would be delighted that we have chosen to support ICT in their 30th year anniversary with these special bottlings.”
Jock chose to step down in 1995, passing the reins to Dougie McGilvray, but as honorary life president in the director’s area remained one of Caley Thistle’s staunchest supporters up until his death in December 2008, aged 77.
“Jock was a very influential figure and great club figurehead, with so much presence about him - he took no nonsense!” Alan added.
“He was a great man, with the club at heart, a pure football man who I suspect would have approved very much of this collaboration with Tomatin.”
Purchase details:
Customers can purchase directly from the Tomatin Distillery Visitor Centre, either in person or by phoning +44(0)1463 248 144.
Customers can collect their purchase from the Tomatin Distillery Visitor Centre, the ICT club shop, or have it posted via DHL with free P&P within the UK.
