苏格兰高地批准新建600万英镑单一麦芽威士忌酒厂

The Highland Council has approved plans for a new £6 million (US$8.1m) single malt distillery by Loch Leven near the village of Ballachulish, Scotland.

The stage three planning application for the proposed Glenachulish Distillery was approved on Thursday 6 August, giving the green light for the first phase of construction to begin in 2027. Once complete, Glenachulish Distillery will feature a stillhouse with three sets of copper pot stills, tasting rooms, a shop, a community space, and a café and terrace overlooking Loch Leven. The site will support seven permanent jobs and a further 30 roles outside the distillery. Recruitment for positions across production, hospitality and visitor experience will focus on the local community. Production is expected to begin in 2028, with Glenachulish set to produce a range of small batch single malt whiskies. A spokesperson for Glenachulish Distillery said: “Every whisky carries the imprint of its makers and the place where its story begins – we want to put Glenachulish firmly on the Scottish whisky trail while bringing jobs and prosperity to our local community. “Our ambition is to create a distillery with a distinct identity and charm that gives people another reason to visit, stay and explore the area, while offering a truly memorable visitor experience. "The project will create permanent job opportunities, with the hope that the next generation of distillers and industry professionals will come from this community. “We’re incredibly grateful for all the support we’ve received throughout the planning application process, and to everyone who took the time to share their views, which have helped shape the proposals. We look forward to moving into the next stage of the project and, ultimately, opening the doors and letting the place speak for itself.” Glenachulish Distillery was founded by the family behind Bar 1890, the whisky venue at Creag Mhor Lodge in North Ballachulish. The planned distillery buildings are described as ‘a group of simple, dark clad forms in metal and timber. Three chimney forms rise from the roofline, echoing both the Three Sisters of Glencoe and the three stills at work inside.’ According to figures released by the Scotch Whisky Association, 2.7 million people visited whisky distilleries in Scotland in 2024, up from the pre-pandemic peak of 2.61 million in 2019.