The first new distillery in more than a decade is to be built on a famous Argyll whisky island.
Malt-lovers will soon be able to enjoy Ardnahoe Loch, a drink which will come from Islay’s ninth distillery.
Hunter Laing & Co was granted planning permission by Argyll and Bute Council to build a new distillery and visitor centre.
The family-owned Glasgow whisky company led by Andrew and Scott Laing, along with their father, Stewart, expect to start work on Ardnahoe distillery in November and the first drop to flow from their stills in early 2018.
They will now proceed with plans to build Ardnahoe distillery on a four-acre piece of land at Ardnahoe, on the north east coast of Islay near Port Askaig.
The distillery will draw water from the nearby Ardnahoe Loch and production of around 200,000 litres of alcohol is planned for the first year.
Andrew Laing, company director, said: “We are absolutely delighted that our plans for Ardnahoe have been approved. Since starting our company, we’ve seen a huge demand for Islay whisky around the world and now is the perfect time to make the progression from blenders and bottlers to distillers and secure our own supply of Islay single malt.”
Councillor David Kinniburgh, the council’s pollicy lead for planning, said: “We were delighted to approve this application. We are fully supportive of this development – it will be a great boost not just to Islay but to Argyll and Bute.
“The whisky industry supports a range of other businesses, such as haulage firms, who take the product round the country and even overseas.”