THE son of East Lothian’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant has launched himself into the world of Scotch whisky, with a single grain aimed at those who don’t like whisky... yet.

Rory Gammell, whose father Patrick also served as chairman of the Lamp of Lothian Trust, said he began to develop the concept for a whisky “that is inclusive and welcoming to a younger audience and non-experts” while living in San Francisco.

The result was Wee Smoky, whose first limited-edition batch of 400 bottles sold out within four days of being launched on November 22.

Rory 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.”

Rory, 34, grew up in Morham, near Haddington, and attended The Compass School.

In 2018, he took part in the ‘24 Hours of LeMons’ endurance race for old bangers, on the Sonoma Raceway in California, along with friends Sam Smith, John Austin and Wolfgang Muller.

They raced in a 1996 Mazda MX-5 named Nessie – complete with a Saltire across the bonnet and a giant ‘See You Jimmy Hat’.

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

Rory, who now lives in Edinburgh, said: “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.”

Wee Smoky, described as smooth, fruity and lightly smoky, is Rory’s solo venture, distilled in Edinburgh and bottled in distinctive electric blue and pink bottles.

It will see its next batch, set for wide distribution, released some time next year.

To find out more about the whisky, go to www.weesmoky.com