The distillery became a media hot spot. Charlie did more interviews than Usain Bolt after breaking a world record. TV and radio adore a ‘hero and ‘Quick Question Charlie’ became ‘Have a Go Charlie.’ The internet caught fire and with the speed only the digital world can deliver Charlie went global. A Facebook page was set up. #haveagocharlie became the number one spot on Twitter and a young pupil from the local school snapped together a website and Charlie was immortalized in pixel form.

The next day the newspapers spread Charlie over the front pages. ‘Four drinks and you’re out cold.’ ‘ It’s a ‘whisky’ game working in a distillery.’

A US TV network phoned and offered him a first class ticket to New York to appear on the morning breakfast show. They threw in a weeks’ stay in a hotel and a VIP tour of the Big Apple. But Charlie declined. He had always wanted to go to New York but he had his reasons for staying.

So it’s Monday and I’m opening the gate. So I should have retired on Friday. So Nora isn’t too happy. But the publicity from the raid has put visitor bookings through the roof and if ever I had questions worth answering I have them now.  Especially when they’re going to name a whisky after me.

Charlie walked into the distillery thinking that when retirement beckoned it would be worth the wait. But that day now felt a long way in the future.