Work starts on £100m Scotch distillery

Construction has begun on a £100 million distillery and visitor’s centre for Edrington’s The Macallan whisky in Speyside, Scotland.

Artist Impression of new Macallan distillery and Visitors Centre

Edrington, which also owns Scotch brands The Famous Grouse, Cutty Sark and Highland Park, received planning permission for the new facility in August this year.

Ian Curle Edrington, chief executive of Edrington, said: “Today represents an exciting new chapter for Edrington and a major step in The Macallan’s long term commitment to be the leading premium spirit in the world. The collaboration between Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP), Robertson, and Forsyths brings together one of the world’s leading architects and the elite of Scottish craftsmen. Over the next three years we will bring The Macallan brand experience to life in a truly unique style.”

The distillery, which will have the capacity to produce 15 million litres of whisky each year, has been designed to blend into the countryside with a “rolling roofscape”.

Graham Stirk, lead architect and partner in RSHP, said: “Our design for the distillery and visitor centre celebrates the whisky-making process as well as the environment that has inspired it. The design is essentially a series of a grass-covered undulating roof forms that are sympathetic to this Area of Great Landscape Value. Together we are creating a bespoke building for The Macallan that will further enhance the visitor experience whilst ensuring the on-going quality of this unique Single Malt.”

Edrington’s progress follows Diageo’s decision to postpone its plans to build a new £50 million distillery in Alness, Scotland, due to a “weaker global economic environment” and declining Scotch sales.

The Macallan’s new distillery is scheduled to open to the public in the spring of 2017.

Bill Robertson, Ian Curle and Graham Stirk at The Macallan distillery