A NEW single grain Scotch has been launched to attract people who don't like whisky.

Former Edrington executive Rory Gammell and distiller Ollie Salvesen, who worked at Kilchoman and Hollyrood distilleries, developed Wee Smoky. Pickering’s Gin founder Matt Gammell was also involved.

Just 400 bottles are currently available and the product will be widely distributed next year.

Rory Gammell came up with the idea while living in San Francisco.

He said: “Cocktail culture was growing and I noticed that people weren’t choosing to mix Scotch Whisky. I felt it was mostly because it looked too old fashioned to attract younger drinkers. It wasn’t inviting people to mix it.

"Upon trying a cocktail made with a smoky Scotch whisky, I had a Eureka moment.”

He went on: “Having worked in both the US and Hong Kong, I understand the strength of the Scottish brand worldwide. That experience has played a huge part in developing a whisky that can celebrate a more playful side of Scotland."

After eight years abroad, Rory came home via the Saltire Fellowship to work for Edrington, the maker of The Macallan. 

He added: “I recognised that while marketers were focused on single malts, experts really rated the potential of grain whisky when paired with the right casks. So I began experiments with different grain whiskies in a variety of peated casks until I found what I was looking for. 

“I’m very proud of both the bottle we’ve created and the cask we’ve bottled. I’m also excited by the reaction from non-whisky drinkers who have tried it both neat and in cocktails during testing. 

“Our whisky is for creators. While we have huge respect for the industry, we invite people to challenge the pre-conceived rules associated with Scotch whisky, and drink Wee Smoky however they want, with whatever they want.”