Up & coming malt distilleries in Scotland

[jazznut]

There's lots of good news concerning new Scottish distilleries, which are either already in operation or slated for opening in the near future...

A BAKER’S DOZEN UP AND COMING MALT DISTILLERIES IN SCOTLAND


ABHAINN DEARG: In Uig on the Isle of Lewis, this site represents the most westerly of Scotland's whisky distilleries.
AILSA BAY: Located at the Girvan grain distillery site (William Grant & Sons of Balvenie/Glenfiddich fame) in Ayrshire, this one's due to 'replace' Kininvie for production of malt whisky destined for the Grants' blends.
ANNANDALE: An old distillery located in Dumfries-shire in the Borders (Lowlands) region, which closed down way back in 1924, has been reopened as of 2007. It has now been renovated and made operational. The first cask of whisky is set to be filled in November of 2014.
ARBIKIE: A farm-style distillery overlooking Lunan Bay, just to the south of Montrose along the eastern coast of the Scottish Highlands.
ARDNAMURCHAN: Sited in the extreme west of the mainland not far from where the Kilchoan-to-Mull ferry departs (I've been there, and it certainly IS a remote area accessible only by the ferry and a one-lane, winding road), this small distillery will have its own maltings.
BALLINDALLOCH: Sited near the castle of the same name in central Speyside, this enterprise should hopefully be percolating away soon.
DAFTMILL: In the environs of Fife in the Lowlands, this 2-still distillery started up in 2005, and has already gained a reputation for its whisky.
EDEN MILL: Located at Guardbridge near St. Andrews, this distillery and craft brewery occupies the site of a former paper mill, and is scheduled for completion in 2015
GARTBRECK: This one's due to open southwest of Bowmore on the eastern side of Loch Indaal (Islay).
LONGSHIP: A third Orkney distillery (under this name), likely backed by Scandinavian interests, is presently in the preliminary planning stages (no precise location settled upon as yet).
PORT CHARLOTTE: Never mind that Bruichladdich has released medium-peated expressions of its whisky under this name (the name of a long-closed distillery, in fact). There actually will be a new Port Charlotte Distillery in a little while!
TARBERT (name of locality): Located on the Isle of Harris and scheduled for completion in early 2015, this distillery will produce malt whisky entitled The Hearach.
TORABHAIG: Talisker, on the Isle of Skye, will soon have competition. Located at Knock Bay (on the Sound of Sleat in the southern portion of the island), Torabhaig is set to open its doors in late 2016.

[gumby]

Great read and great to see this movement taking place. We are heading there next fall and will have to check these out.

[jazznut]

The Scotch whisky industry seems to be in something of a topsy-turvy state at the moment. Even as smaller (usually independently owned) boutique sites (such as those mentioned above) appear on the scene, larger corporate concerns are scaling back expansion plans.

Foremost among the latter is Diageo, the giant spirits enterprise, which has (temporarily according to company spokespersons) put its massive distillery development program on hold, purportedly owing to weakened product demand in the far eastern (read: China) and South American markets. This on-hold initiative included refurbishment/expansion of some quality malt whisky sites (including Clynelish and Mortlach) as well as construction of a huge distillery in the Alness area. This latter project would have come hot on the heels of establishment of Diageo's extensive Roseisle Distillery, a state of the art facility.

So the picture at this time is very much a mixed one. Hopefully, the smaller distilleries now beginning to produce whisky (and those set to come on-line soon) will be able to weather the storm.