After being accidentally washed down the drain at a bottling factory in Scotland, thousands of litres of Scotch whisky worth $740,000 have been lost.
Last Tuesday, around 18,000 litres of the spirit were mistakenly flushed out when it was believed to be waste water.
Chivas Brothers from Dumbarton stated it was looking into the ‘accidental loss’ following reports from sewage workers about a strong smell.
‘We are currently investigating an accidental loss that occurred on February 26 at our Dumbarton site, where some spirit was released to the local water treatment plant,’ the company mentioned in a statement.
‘There has been no release of spirit into the River Leven or any other local watercourse. We have informed Scottish Water and all other relevant authorities.’
With over 600 employees, Chivas Brothers produces the world’s second biggest-selling brand, Ballantine’s.
A representative from Scottish Water commented: ‘Our staff at the wastewater treatment works were already aware of an issue and were working to identify the source when contacted by Chivas Brothers.
‘Our trade effluent team has since visited the company to gain insight into its failure investigation, ensuring that all necessary precautions are in place to prevent a recurrence.
‘Discharging significant volumes of alcohol into the sewer network can negatively affect wastewater treatment processes, especially during dry, cold weather.’
