Thursday, September 22, 2016

HUNTER LAING & CO GIVEN GREEN LIGHT FOR NEW ISLAY DISTILLERY

Independent Scotch whisky specialists Hunter Laing & Co, have announced that they’ve been given the green light from Argyll and Bute Council to build a new single malt whisky distillery on Islay.

The family-owned Glasgow whisky company led by Andrew and Scott Laing, along with their father, Stewart, expect to start work on the new £8m Ardnahoe Distillery in November, with the aim of having the stills in operation in early 2018.

Artist impression of the new Ardnahoe Distillery due to open in 2018

The distillery, which will focus on creating a single malt Islay whisky, will be the ninth on the island and the first to be built since Kilchoman, which was established in 2005. The distillery will draw water from the nearby Ardnahoe Loch and will produce around 200,000 litres of alcohol in its first year.

Hunter Laing & Co, which was established in May 2013 and distributes whisky to 65 markets around the world, submitted its planning application earlier in the year and will now proceed with plans to build Ardnahoe distillery on a four-acre piece of land at Ardnahoe, on the north east coast of Islay near Port Askaig.

Commenting on the news, Andrew Laing, Director of Hunter Laing & Co, said: “We are absolutely delighted that our plans for Ardnahoe have been approved. Since starting our company, we’ve seen a huge demand for Islay whisky around the world and now is the perfect time to make the progression from blenders and bottlers to distillers and secure our own supply of Islay single malt.”

The new Ardnahoe Distillery, will also include a visitor centre, café, tasting room and shop, which will create many full-time positions on the island, as well as a number of seasonal job opportunities.

Posted by Steve Rush