AYRSHIRE has another intriguing tourism destination with the recent opening of AD Rattray Whisky Experience and Whisky Shop as you enter Kirkoswald travelling south.
Usually you’d find something like this next to a distillery.
Based in what was the old Kirkoswald Primary School, it is owned by Tim Morrison whose family pedigree in the whisky business is impressive to say the least.
His son Andrew is the fourth generation to work in the industry and lives in the USA where he looks after the company’s US sales.
Tim is a member of the Morrison-Bowmore dynasty and his mother Elizabeth was a Walker of William Walker and Co, Glasgow, blender and bottlers.
The opening of this venture has been a long held dream for Tim who was brought up in Turnberry before he too went into the family whisky business, married and raised a family.
His father Stanley P Morrison, a well known amateur golfer, was captain of Turnberry Golf Club from 1963/64 and 64/65 and Tim also became captain of Turnberry Golf Club during its centenary year.
Tim and his family lived in Kirkoswald from 1981 to 2008 before moving back to live in Turnberry.
Two of Tim’s youngest children went to school in the very building he has just had completely renovated and where he attended many a parent’s evening.
“The whole building was taken back to the walls by my builder Tommy Thomson of Maybole.
“It took us 15 months to get planning permission as the interior had to be completely redesigned but I was determined it should retain its original character,” said Tim.
“I must say we’re very pleased with the end result.
“I was first interested in taking over this building in 1990 primarily as a home for my wine business at the time ‘Tim Morrison Fine Wines’ but Strathclyde Region ‘lost’ the title deeds and I couldn’t wait until they were found.
“So I bought Whitefaulds Farm on the outskirts of Maybole instead, however, I sold this business three years ago.
“Before I acquired it the old Kirkoswald Primary building had four or five different owners but it had gradually fallen into disrepair.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to do as I was responsible for establishing the Visitor’s Centre for Bowmore on Islay and knew the direction I wanted this to take. I also developed the packaging for Bowmore from 1971 and you can see examples of this – and the whisky, of course – in the shop.
“I bought AD Rattray Ltd., from my aunt when we sold Morrison Bowmore in 1990,” Tim explained.
Founded in 1868, AD Rattray’s principal activity today is the selection, storage, and bottling of exceptional malt whiskies.
In a separate area adjacent to the shop, which has some unusual bottles and brands, as well as those you might expect, visitors can see Tim’s own unique Fine and Rare Collection of whiskies.
The sampling room is only used by Nick White, managing director of AD Rattray Ltd., whose offices are upstairs in the building.
This is the arm of the business which 90 per cent of the time deals only with the huge export market.
Visitors can see into this room through a viewing window where there is row upon row of carefully labelled whiskies.
These are all samples from the 95 distilleries in Scotland from where individual casks of specialist whiskies have been carefully sourced by the company to let AD Rattray’s customer’s taste before they buy if they wish.
There’s also a fabulous tasting room where groups of up to 12 can sample the kind of whiskies they may be curious to try or may not have even thought of trying.
Strong links have already been forged with Turnberry Hotel to provide guests with an unusual whisky experience as well as golf tour operators.
“We feel there’s also a big market for us in Northern Ireland and we are establishing links with the council and also tourism bodies but anyone can give us a call and we’ll tailor make tastings to what may be required”, said Tim.
In the softly lit, whisky cask room and bottling hall – which has an array of different brands of barrels – visitors can enjoy A D Rattray’s ‘Whisky Experience’.
Two casks actually do have whisky in them, one has an 11 year old Bowmore, and the other a 14 year old Cragganmore from which you can fill your own bottle of whisky, have it sealed in wax, and then your own personalised label put onto it.
At the moment this is £45 per bottle but the price may change, up or down, depending on the current whisky in the cask.
Added to all of this a programme of educational courses about whiskies, their fascinating histories, and subtleties is being put together.
These will be held in the spacious upstairs board room adjacent to the administration offices.
Anyone can come along and enjoy these courses but it’s envisaged that professional Sommeliers who work in hotels, and who may know a lot about wines, but not whiskies, will be amongst those who will most benefit.
Shop manager is Raphael Marinoni who is half German and half Italian and who has led an international career in the hospitality industry.
Raphael, who masterminds the tastings, was formerly bar manager at Turnberry Hotel and has been in Scotland since 2003.
Added Tim: “We have whiskies that are deemed collectables.”
“Some of these collectables are for sale but there are those that are so unique that they are only for viewing and Raphael will be delighted to explain their background.”
“One of the most valuable of the collection, and not for sale, is a Glen Grant which was already a 30 year old whisky when it was finally taken from the cask and bottled in 1960.
“It’s worth around £2,500.”