The Bunnahabhain Distillery on Islay has started a three-year refurbishment, as its owner Distell International has invested £10.5m in an extensive upgrade of the facilities.
A number of the original buildings are to be restored, while others will be removed and relocated in order to create more space for better operational flow. A key focal point of the development will be a new visitor centre, featuring a café and retail space, which is due to welcome visitors at the start of the 2020 season.
Derek Scott, brand director for malts at Distell International, said: “Our investment programme, here at Bunnahabhain, is about improving the operational side of our distillery for the long-term future. We are restoring our buildings to their former glory and providing a visitor experience where we don’t just welcome visitors, after the long winding journey to get here, we help them enjoy a piece of Bunnahabhain life.
“The plans aim to make the navigation of the site much easier for the visitor and to declutter it. This will ensure the buildings are more efficient from a storage point of view and located in better suited, more accessible locations to the production buildings. Furthermore, we are committed to reducing the environmental impact of the works. The whisky industry is starting to be more environmentally aware and our achievement of recycling over 99 per cent of materials shows, with a little bit of extra effort, it is remarkable what we can achieve.
“Bunnahabhain has a special place in Islay’s whisky heritage and we are committed to retaining this by turning Bunnahabhain Bay into a world-class whisky destination of choice. As the most remote and northerly distillery on the island, our transformation will give those who have made the journey time to pause, forget about the rest of the world and enjoy the serene surroundings.”
A number of the original buildings are to be restored, while others will be removed and relocated in order to create more space for better operational flow. A key focal point of the development will be a new visitor centre, featuring a café and retail space, which is due to welcome visitors at the start of the 2020 season.
Derek Scott, brand director for malts at Distell International, said: “Our investment programme, here at Bunnahabhain, is about improving the operational side of our distillery for the long-term future. We are restoring our buildings to their former glory and providing a visitor experience where we don’t just welcome visitors, after the long winding journey to get here, we help them enjoy a piece of Bunnahabhain life.
“The plans aim to make the navigation of the site much easier for the visitor and to declutter it. This will ensure the buildings are more efficient from a storage point of view and located in better suited, more accessible locations to the production buildings. Furthermore, we are committed to reducing the environmental impact of the works. The whisky industry is starting to be more environmentally aware and our achievement of recycling over 99 per cent of materials shows, with a little bit of extra effort, it is remarkable what we can achieve.
“Bunnahabhain has a special place in Islay’s whisky heritage and we are committed to retaining this by turning Bunnahabhain Bay into a world-class whisky destination of choice. As the most remote and northerly distillery on the island, our transformation will give those who have made the journey time to pause, forget about the rest of the world and enjoy the serene surroundings.”
