HUNTER Laing, the Glasgow-based whisky blender and bottler, has moved a big step closer to becoming a distiller in its own right.
The family firm, led by Stewart Laing with sons Andrew and Scott, has secured planning permission from Argyll & Bute Council to build a malt whisky distillery on Islay.
It comes after Hunter Laing revealed plans for the £8 million investment to The Herald in January.
Work is expected to start at the four-acre Ardnahoe site, on the north-east of the island near Port Askaig, in November, with the first spirit expected to flow from the stills in early 2018.
It will be the ninth distillery on the island and the first to be built since Kilchoman was founded by Anthony Wills in 2005. The other Islay distilleries are Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich, Lagavulin and Laphroaig.
Hunter Laing, which purchased the land from Islay Estates, will focus on distilling a single malt at Ardnahoe. The distillery will draw its water from the nearby Ardnahoe Loch, and produce around 200,000 litres of alcohol a year.
An unspecified number of full-time and seasonal roles are expected to be created at the distillery, where Hunter Laing is also developing a visitor centre with a café, tasting room and shop.
The project has particular resonance for Stewart Laing, who spent time working at Bruichladdich on Islay in the early part of his career.
He said: “This is the natural next step in the journey of Hunter Laing & Co. To be able to work with my sons on the new distillery is a real joy, as is the opportunity to be part of the incredible tradition of whisky-making on Islay, the whole experience is a dream come true.”
Hunter Laing, which exports its whiskies to 65 markets, was established by Stewart Laing with his sons in 2013. That came after he spent several decades running Scotch blender and bottler Douglas Laing & Co with his brother Fred.
The two brothers split the family business and assets to ease succession issues, with Fred Laing continuing to run Douglas Laing & Co with daughter Cara.
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