25 years in the making: Ex-chancellor Ken Clarke honours Glenfarclas whisky promise

Veteran Tory MP Ken Clarke completed a 25-year journey and promise this week when he returned to visit a popular Speyside whisky distillery.

Published 14th May 2019
Updated 21 st Sep 2023

Back in May 1994, the then chancellor made the trip to Glenfarclas distillery to fill and lay a cask in the production site's warehouse vowing to only return to open it when  the local constituency voted in a Conservative MP.

In the period since the area had remained an SNP stronghold, that was until 2017 when Douglas Ross won back the seat for the Tories.

This year, Mr Clarke was invited back by Mr Ross to finally open the cask.

Reportedly set to be dubbed the "Chancellor's Cask", it will be bottled with all proceeds going to a charity of Mr Clarke's choice.

• READ MORE: 5 of the most underrated Scottish whiskies you should order next time you want a dram

The MP for Rushcliffe, who admitted he had long-forgotten about the promise, said he learned a lot about the Scotch Whisky industry on the  original trip.

He told Sky News: "Every budget I gave after that, the glass of whisky which I used to make a bit of a prop of when I delivered my budget was Glenfarclas whisky - as I'd so enjoyed my visit here."

Glenfarclas is a family run whisky distillery which was founded near Aberlour in 1836.

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Driven by a passion for all things drinks-related, Sean writes for The Scotsman extensively on the subject. He can also sometimes be found behind the bar at the world famous Potstill bar in Glasgow where he continues to enhance his whisky knowledge built up over 10 years advising customers from all over the world on the wonders of our national drink. Recently, his first book was published. Dubbed Gin Galore, it explores Scotland's best gins and the stories behind those that make them.
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