Today (Wednesday, 20th May) is World Bee Day, prompting Perthshire’s single malt whisky and honey liqueur Bruadar to highlight the vital role that bees play in Scotland’s biodiversity, sustainable farming, and wider ecosystem.
Bruadar, which is produced at Aberargie Distillery by Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, has a long-term partnership with local beekeepers Denrosa Apiaries, who manage hives on-site at the distillery and produce the honey used within Bruadar liqueur.
For World Bee Day, Bruadar and Denrosa have launched a ‘Beekeeping Support Toolkit’ – a checklist of ‘small but meaningful’ actions people across Scotland can take to support pollinators.
As part of the distillery partnership, Denrosa’s bees forage the Perthshire landscape surrounding the distillery, meaning that the local environment directly influences the flavour and character of the honey used in Bruadar.
Helen McGregor of Denrosa Apiaries, whose family has been involved in beekeeping since her grandfather started the company post-war in the 1940s, said the partnership was an opportunity to increase awareness of the importance of bees in agriculture and everyday life.
“Working with Aberargie Distillery really demonstrates true collaborative working,” said McGregor. “We can have bees working the land onsite, and in return producing honey for the distillery.
“Also, both being family-run businesses is good, and it’s been a way of life for us for a long time.”
According to Scottish Government figures, beekeeping continues to grow across Scotland, with more than 3000 registered beekeepers now caring for over 40,000 colonies.
However, changing weather patterns and habitat loss continue to present challenges for pollinators and those working within the industry.
“The seasons are definitely changing, which is challenging for beekeepers,” Helen explained. “The weather is crucial in beekeeping, like all aspects of agriculture, and we see a changing climate presents more challenges for us.
“People can help by planting bee-friendly flowers and having wild areas with forage for bees,” she suggested. “There are not only honeybees, but lots of varieties of wild bees that all benefit from being given the right environment to thrive in.”
Helen also believes local honey production offers consumers a stronger connection to provenance and place.
“The bees will only fly up to three miles, so you know the honey they make is right from where the hives are located,” she said. “People do seem to want to know where their products have come from, so nothing better than what has been produced right on your doorstep.”
For Bruadar, the partnership with Denrosa reflects its commitment to supporting local producers and celebrating the natural ingredients that make Scottish food and drink unique.
Rebecca Davidson, junior brand manager at Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, said: “We’ve worked with Helen and the team at Denrosa Apiaries for the last three years and have seen firsthand how supporting local ecosystems has a direct impact on the environment.
“There’s been a well-documented increase in interest around beekeeping, and with more people becoming curious about how they can support bees in their own communities.
“Through our new beekeeping toolkit, we wanted to create something practical and accessible that encourages people to take small steps which can collectively make a big difference.
“At Bruadar, honey is at the heart of what we do, so working closely with local beekeepers at Aberargie Distillery has given us a genuine appreciation for the work involved in protecting pollinators and maintaining healthy ecosystems across Scotland.”
The toolkit is available online via https://www.bruadarliqueur.com
