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Bruichladdich to expand with on-site maltings
The Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay has announced plans to expand its facilities while also upping its commitment to the environment by installing its own multimillion-pound on-site malting operation.
The distillery hopes to run entirely on renewable energy within the next five years.
Currently, the distillery grows 42% of its barley locally, However the distillery is required to transporting this Islay-grown raw material to Inverness for malting, incurring unwanted transportation costs.
Last year, the distillery acquired 30 acres of land next to the distillery for the malting operation, where it hopes to develop its sustainable farming practices and conduct further barley experimentation.
While the on-site malting operation is subject to planning permission, the team hopes that the new facility will be operational by 2023 as part of a £20m investment.
The distillery says the plans will reduce its carbon footprint, and will also help it toward its aim of running entirely on renewable energy within the next five years.
It is also investing in warehousing and has built two new warehouses over the past three years. Another four warehouses will be constructed over the next few years.
Chief executive Douglas Taylor said: “Running a business from an island makes us distinctly aware that our social, economic and environmental impact must be a positive one. We feel strongly about our responsibility to the island and the people of Islay.
“In recent years, we have endeavoured to be more sustainable in our operations and more environmental in our actions.
“Some have been straightforward, like stopping using bottled water and introducing the use of electric vehicles, or more complicated, like habitat protection, wildlife corridor agreements with landowners for barley growing or engineering a solution that re-uses the hot waste-water from distillation.
“These actions are just the beginning of a long-term vision; to be more sustainable in all we do, and to leave behind a bright future for generations to come.”