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First Minister John Swinney has presented an Arbroath-made whisky to the Japanese ambassador.

Mr Swinney made the presentation of a bottle of the Glover whisky to ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki at a Bute House dinner attended by Japanese business representatives.

The Glover is the world’s first official fusion of Scottish and Japanese whiskies and was developed to celebrate the historic relationship between Scotland and Japan.

Named after the “Scottish samurai” Thomas Blake Glover from Aberdeenshire who played a key role in Japan in the 19th century, the Glover is produced by Fusion Whisky in partnership with Adelphi and the bottle is from a limited batch of just 451.

Fusion Whisky founder Jim Millar, who received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation in 2017 for his work in promoting the links between the two countries, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Mr Swinney presented a bottle of the Glover to ambassador Suzuki.

“This event highlights the purpose behind the brand which is to underline our historical links and promote future trade and cultural ties.

“The Glover brand has proved hugely popular in Japan where consumers value high quality and authenticity.”

The Glover project was driven by Mr Millar, from Arbroath, who came up with idea as a way to develop the relationship between Scotland and Japan.

Jim has had a lifelong interest in Japan and is a 3rd-dan black belt in Shotokan karate.

He added: “Creating international fusions is not without its challenges but the rewards are clearly there for people to see and taste.

“These whiskies are a celebration of Scotland’s internationalism, of its positive influences on other countries, of partnerships that reach across physical borders.

“We think it’s worth trying that little bit harder to create these fusion whiskies, a drink that was made for sharing with friends.”

This article appeared in The Courier on 24 June 2025