Hugh MacKay, 1st year apprentice from AB Masonry, and Mhairi Winters, distillery manager, did the honours of placing a bottle of whisky in a cavity in the stonework.

The Cairn is a second distillery for renowned whisky experts Gordon & MacPhail, the family firm based in Moray. Appropriately, it was a bottle of Benromach which was used for the ceremony, acknowledging the company’s first distillery at Forres.

In a tradition thought to have been brought here by the Vikings, the topping out ceremony used to mark the installation of the final beam in a building. But it has developed over the years to mark completion of the external construction work and now, in Scotland at least, it’s traditional to include the use of Scotch whisky.

The ceremony usually involves the youngest on the site and in this case Hugh MacKay 1st year apprentice was given the task.

He said: “It’s been great to be involved in a project of this size in my first year and I have really enjoyed being part of the team constructing such a unique building. I can’t wait to see what the whisky is like in many years’ time.”

Distillery manager Mhairi Winter said: “it’s wonderful to take part in this traditional ceremony which dates back so many centuries. And it marks another milestone as we move towards completion, ready to open later in the year.”

Planning permission for the distillery was granted in 2019 and work started on site once COVID restrictions on construction were lifted in July 2020.

Opening to the public later this year, The Cairn Distillery overlooks the River Spey towards the Cairngorms. It will offer a selection of immersive visitor experiences, whisky tastings and carefully selected gifts. Visitors will also be able to eat at The Gathering and experience the finest produce sourced from throughout Scotland. It has been designed to sit within this world class setting with features including a “green” sedum roof which was recently installed.