Jamie Greene MSP, local Conservative Member for the West of Scotland, has nominated Arran based Arran Whiskey for the prestigious Scottish Rural Awards due to be held in 2017. At the launch of the Awards at a reception in the Scottish Parliament last week, nominations for the Awards officially were opened. A mini "ballot booth" was set up for MSPs and guests to submit some early submissions. There are ten categories including the Artisan Drink category which will face fierce competition from Scotland’s boom in artisan gin.
Mr Greene officially registered his vote for the Arran Distillery for this category citing that "it was a great example of a small, industrious, ambitious island community business which had seem excellent growth and had ambitious plans for expansion and export."
He added "I visited the distillery before my election and was taken aback by not only the quality of the product itself, I am yet to try its latest vintage and am looking forward to doing so, but also the whole visitor experience is a wonderful, well-structured programme. I am really pleased to learn about their expansion plans and proud to support this fine local business in these prestigious awards which recognise the importance of the rural economy and small business in Scotland."
Nominations close Friday 14th October and the local MSP has urged all residents of the West of Scotland to get behind the campaign to recognise Arran Whiskey as a potential category winner by getting online and voting. Nominations are still open for a range of other categories including business diversification, rural tourism and hospitality, agriculture, food, and the environment. Thereafter official voting is expected to open.