Scotch whisky producers in multi-million pound investment boost

The Macallan distillery, near Craigellachie, will receive new cooperage and warehouse facilities in a £100M investment.

Dufftown’s Glenfiddich distillery will benefit from new distilling facilities, tun rooms and equipment.

Moray Council gave the go-ahead for both projects at a meeting last week.

Glenfiddich owner William Grant & Sons said the expansion of production facilities in Dufftown was necessary to protect the future of its whisky production. Glenfiddich is the second biggest malt whisky in the world by volume, according to International Wine & Spirits Record figures.

Category leading

“As a family owned business it is in our DNA to protect the future and think in the long term. This means managing our stock profile carefully and leading the category through innovation and creativity,” said Enda O’Sullivan, Glenfiddich global brand director.

“The expansion plans enable us to help meet these objectives. We are delighted that the plans have been approved and that we can continue to meet the needs of our discerning drinkers all over the world long, long into the future.”

William Grant & Sons has not released details of the project costs, but said that access to the site would also be improved.

Owned by The Edrington Group, the Macallan investment is a further development of the new distillery and visitor centre, which was approved at a council planning committee meeting earlier this year.

Architect group Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners has been commissioned for the project, which will feature glass-fronted curved buildings with turf roofs.

Architectural significance

“This is a project that will provide vital infrastructure for the new distillery and will be a site of major architectural significance,” said a spokeswoman for the company.

“When it is complete in 2017, the new distillery and visitors’ centre will bring both employment and significant economic benefits to our local community.”

Speaking after last week’s meeting, leader of Moray Council Stewart Cree said the committee decision was a vote of confidence by the council in the whisky industry.

“For these global industries to commit to this level of investment in Moray is a measure of their confidence in the Speyside brand,” he said.

“It is recognised the world over as the finest malt whisky you can get, and that reputation draws thousands of visitors to our area every year.”

The Macallan application was recommended to be approved after the council imposed two conditions – that sound levels were monitored every quarter for five years and that the proposed lighting scheme was referred back to the committee for further consideration.