DIAGEO is bringing two of the most revered “lost” distilleries in Scotland back to life, in a £35 million project.
New Scotch whisky from the Port Ellen Distillery on Islay, and the Brora Distillery in Speyside will be available from 2032 in what Diageo called “a powerful statement of confidence in the future of Scotch whisky”.
In the 34 years since Brora and Port Ellen were mothballed, the whiskies they produced have become highly sought after.
Diageo hopes production will begin at both distilleries in 2019 or 2020.
David Cutter, Diageo president of global supply & procurement, who is responsible for leading the capital investment programme to reinstate the distilleries, said: “What we’re doing today reflects Diageo’s confidence in Scotch whisky, the growth in the malt market and our attempt to recruit new drinkers into this world of very special and rare spirits.”
Scotch whisky exports passed back over the £4 billion mark last year, while there is growing demand for single malt across mature and emerging markets.
Nick Morgan, Diageo’s head of whisky outreach, called it “the whisky announcement of a lifetime”, one which would excite whisky drinkers across the world.
“This is a truly exceptional moment in Scotch whisky,” he said. “Port Ellen and Brora are names which have a powerful resonance with whisky-lovers around the world and the opportunity to bring these lost distilleries back to life is as rare and special as the spirit for which they are famous.”
Mr Cutter said both distilleries would, as closely as possible, replicate the distillation regimes and spirit character of the original distilleries.
The new Brora and Port Ellen distilleries will be among Diageo’s smallest, capable of producing 800,000 litres of alcohol per year.
Both distilleries will also have visitors centres with Mr Cutter saying they would combine traditional and modern equipment to replicate where possible the distillation regimes and spirit character of the original distilleries .
Mr Cutter said the plan for both distilleries was to have standard expressions starting at 12 years old. “That doesn’t mean we might not release something sooner than that if we think it’s interesting and there is demand for it so we’d really be looking at having product out in a consistent way from 2032,” he said.
Mr Cutter said the pricing structure would “reflect both the rarity and reputation of these whiskies but is within a price point that allows more people to enjoy these whiskies than can do at the moment.”
He added that there “absolutely” would be job creation at the distilleries and visitor centres, but he was not in a position to say how many positions at this stage.
The £35m investment is roughly being divided between both distilleries.
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