Ian Macleod Distillers and the Islay Boys have revealed further plans for their Laggan Bay Distillery on Islay.
Argyll and Bute Council granted planning permission for the distillery — which will be located in Glenegedale, near Laggan Bay — in August 2022.
Construction on what will be Islay's 12th distillery is already underway and due to be completed in 2025.
Family-owned firm Ian Macleod is undertaking the project in partnership with the Islay Boys, whose new brewery, approved at the same time as the distillery project, sits on the adjacent site.
Ian Macleod Distillers' portfolio of spirits brands includes the Glengoyne and Tamdhu whisky distillies, Edinburgh Gin, the Smokehead Islay whisky brand, and the Rosebank Distillery, which restarted production in July 2023 after a 30-year hiatus and is due to reopen to visitors this summer.
One notable part of the construction project at Laggan Bay will be the creation of wetlands around the distillery to manage its liquid waste and provide a habitat for local wildlife. Glengoyne, which has a long-term partnership with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, was the first Scotch whisky distillery to use on-site wetlands for liquid waste management.
The companies are also working with the Islay Energy Trust and Scottish Power to explore renewable energy options for the distillery as part of their commitment to reduce its carbon emissions.
While the distillery is some way from completion, visitors to this year's Fèis Ìle will be able to see the plans and the soon-to-be-completed Warehouse 1. More information on the distillery will be available at the Islay Boys Brewery (Islay Ales Co) in Glenegedale.
Leonard Russell, managing director at Ian Macleod Distillers, said: “I am delighted to be partnering with my friends, the Islay Boys, to build Laggan Bay distillery. It’s a very exciting project, which will allow us to offer a brand-new Islay single malt before the end of the decade.”
