Whisky worth over £100,000 stolen in overnight raid on family-owned Speyside distillery

Thieves have smashed their way into a family-run Speyside distillery before making off with whisky worth more than £100,000 in a brazen overnight raid.

The owners of Glenfarclas in Ballindalloch said they were left “horrified” by the targeted attack after a number of family casks and a 60-year-old malt were taken in the early hours of the morning on May 15.

Cabinets were smashed and other parts of the visitor centre, owned by the family since 1836, were also damaged in the break-in – thought to have occurred at around 2:45am.

Distillery bosses said those responsible “knew exactly what they were looking for” in a statement posted online after an inventory taken later that morning found some of the rarest items had been stolen.

Production manager Callum Fraser said: “The team are understandably very shaken up by these events.

A number of high-value items were stolen in the attack in the early hours of Sunday morning. Glenfarclas

“The thieves clearly knew what they wanted as they smashed the cabinets and cleared out all the oldest and most valuable family casks and a bottle of 60-year-old, leaving destruction behind.

“The total value of the whisky stolen is over £100,000.”

They added: “We would ask if you have any information related to this crime or are offered these bottles to please get in touch with us immediately.”

Police Scotland said they are investigating the incident, but enquiries remain at an early stage.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Officers were informed of reports of a break-in at a business in Ballindalloch at around 10.15am on Sunday, May 15, 2022.

“Several items were taken from the premises.

“Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting incident 1328 of May 15.”