Councillors Grant Planning Permission For Islay’s Smallest Distillery!

Hopes are that the first whisky will be produced late 2024/early 2025

Members of Argyll and Bute Council’s Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee (PPSL) have approved the planning application for Islay’s smallest distillery!

The proposed distillery, situated close to Port Charlotte, will have a target capacity of 200,000 litres of pure alcohol per annum and the distillery will also act as a key visitor attraction for this part of Islay, taking advantage of the existing beauty of the surrounding landscape, with a visitor centre included as part of the proposals.

Materials for the distillery have been chosen to reflect a philosophy of ‘use natural, reduce and source locally’ helping to achieve the goal of net zero embodied carbon. This includes the use of natural building materials where possible, such as locally sourced timber and stone and only using concrete / steel where a natural / low-carbon solution is not suitable.

The planning application, now approved, includes 4.25MW of solar power, located over two sites; a 700kW hydrogen electrolyser; and a 5MW Battery Energy Storage System.

Islanders Bertie Nesselrode and Scott McLellan, who are behind the new project, have welcomed the news.

Today’s decision is a fantastic and significant milestone for the project. We believe passionately in the distillery and the many benefits we know it will bring to this part of Islay.

Along with producing a world-class, sustainable whisky, we are proud to be offering a community benefit fund, ensuring that all islanders have the opportunity to benefit from the distillery in the future.

We will now turn our attention to the next, exciting stage in the distillery’s development, and would like to thank all those who have supported us so far.
– Bertie Nesselrode

Councillors were unanimous in approving the proposals, with the development team hoping to begin on-site next year and the first whisky being produced late 2024/early 2025.