Whisky company Thompson Brothers has launched a £1.8 million crowdfunding campaign, which will fund construction of the new Struie Distillery. Located in Dornoch, where Thompson Brothers currently runs Dornoch Distillery, the Struie Distillery will represent a major expansion of the company's whisky output capabilities.
The new distillery will have capacity to "produce up to 20 times more" spirit than the small-scale Dornoch Distillery, and will create 10 new jobs. Thompson Brothers' plans for the distillery include a sustainable approach from the outset.
Struie distillery will use patent-pending technology, including a still and condenser that will run on renewable energy sources generated on-site. The brand says this will ensure zero carbon emissions through scope one or two.
Phil Thompson explained: "Our vision is to create a distillery that not only produces exceptional spirits but also sets a new standard for environmental responsibility in the industry."
He continued: "Since my brother and I first dreamt of a new distillery, everything we’ve done has been building towards that goal. This crowdfunding campaign is about financing the build through the support of the wonderful whisky community that will help us to grow and share more Sutherland spirits with the world, all whilst bringing more long-term non-seasonal employment to the region we call home."
Phil and Simon Thompson launched the Dornoch Distillery in 2016, after another crowdfunding campaign. The tiny distillery focuses on producing historic whisky styles. They are also independent bottlers under the Thompson Brothers brand.
Simon Thompson added: "We’re building Struie Distillery with a blend of past, present and future thinking. The goals we’ve put in place are about making great whisky right away, utilising many old-style production principles that we already run at Dornoch Distillery, but also building something unique and sustainable that will raise the bar globally for what distillers can do to protect the environment for the future. We want Struie whisky to be as delicious as it is sustainable."
For more information on Struie Distillery and the crowdfunding campaign, visit www.thompsonbrosdistillers.com.
