Doddie Weir bottles charity Scotch whisky

Former rugby player Doddie Weir has bottled a 16-year-old Glenkinchie Scotch whisky to raise funds for research into a cure for motor neurone disease.

Former Scotland rugby player Doddie Weir (centre) has bottled a 16-year-old Glenkinchie Scotch whisky

The former rugby union player has filled 378 bottles of 16-year-old Glenkinchie single malt whisky, which will be used to raise funds for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. The foundation was created by Weir to support research into a cure for motor neurone disease (MND).

Weir said: “It’s very exciting to see the cask I chose earlier this year now packaged in these beautiful bottles bearing my foundation tartan.

“The whisky is a great addition to our fundraising efforts and I’m sure it will generate a lot of money to support the search for a cure to MND.

“It’s a gorgeous, smooth and silky single malt and I know people are going to love it. It’s been a pleasure working with the people at Diageo and Glenkinchie and I look forward to sharing a dram with them again soon.”

The single malt will be used by the foundation in a variety of fundraising activities, including auctions, raffles and prize giveaways. All the money raised will be donated to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

The cask was pledged to Weir earlier this year when he visited Glenkinchie owner Diageo’s Scottish corporate headquarters in Edinburgh.

Ewan Andrew, Diageo president of global supply chain and procurement, said: “It has been a pleasure and privilege for everyone at Diageo to be able to support Doddie Weir and his remarkable fundraising campaign.

“He is a true inspiration to us all with the incredible bravery and good humour with which he meets the challenges of his condition. We look forward to these bottles of whisky raising lots of funds for the battle against motor neurone disease.”