ONE OF Speyside's leading distilleries is to close with the loss of more than 30 jobs after a review by a major whisky producer. The Edrington Group plans to put its Tamdhu distillery and maltings in Aberlour in "care and maintenance" from April.

It will then concentrate production at its three core distilleries – The Macallan in Craigellachie, Glenrothes in Rothes and Highland Park in Orkney. Glenturret distillery in Crieff is unaffected by the proposals. Tamdhu, meaning "little dark hill" in Gaelic, was founded in 1897 and currently employs 20 staff.