Aberdeenshire whisky shop and tasting room, Still Spirit, has been awarded a five-star (5*) Quality Assurance (QA) grading at its first-ever visit, which is the highest possible award.
Still Spirit, which is located on the outskirts of Pitmedden near Ellon, and part of Whisky Hammer, one of the world’s leading online whisky auction houses, has been awarded our five-star Tourist Shop award, despite only joining the QA scheme in August 2021. It’s one of only three five-star tourist shops in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Staff moved into the shop, which also has an online presence, in September 2020 though due to the pandemic it only opened properly in early 2021. Over the last twelve months, Still Spirit has offered both private and public tasting events suited to every budget and party size, attended by brand ambassadors and whisky experts.
Sessions have included a collaboration with Meat Monsters smokehouse in Ellon, with traditional Speyside malt Benromach being paired with five different smokehouse meats. A small, decked area outside the store means customers can enjoy a dram in the surrounding countryside on a summer’s evening.
A new warehouse is currently being developed on the site which will house 2,000 casks of whisky, due to be ready to buy by the end of the year. With visitors coming from as far afield as India and Hong Kong, it means they can see the warehouse, taste the whisky and buy a bottle or cask direct from the warehouse.
The shop sells a wide variety of whiskies from across Scotland as well as other fine spirits, including gin, rum, vodka and tequila, and in the fully stocked take-away dram bar which includes old and rare drams.
Our QA scheme has been refreshed in line with the changing landscape, and in consultation with industry, to continue to provide a trusted, relevant and impartial source of information for visitors, as well as the businesses taking part.
We recently undertook a pilot programme of visits to test the new procedures, health and safety protocols and risk assessments which have been introduced since the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a key first step towards the return of in-person grading visits for all members, which will resume later this year.