The Macallan’s new £100m distillery approved

Plans for The Macallan Scotch whisky’s new £100 million Speyside distillery and visitors’ centre have been approved.

The Macallan’s new £100 million distillery has received planning permission

In November last year, brand owner Edrington revealed it planned to build a new Speyside distillery and visitors’ centre for The Macallan, mothballing its existing site.

After Moray Council’s decision to approve the plans, work on building the new site will begin in October 2014, while the distillery is scheduled to open to the public in spring 2017.

A spokesperson for The Macallan told The Spirits Business last year the new site presented a “significant increase in capacity” for the brand, which is struggling to meet demand for its aged whiskies around the world.

Although specific output has yet to be confirmed, Edrington now claims that over time, the distillery will deliver additional capacity to meet the growing demand from existing and new international markets.

The Macallan has teamed-up with architects Rogers, Stirk Harbour + Partners to build the distillery, while Robertson has been enlisted as the site’s contractor and Forsyths of Rothes will supply distillation equipment.

The distillery, which features a rolling roofscape designed to blend in with its natural surroundings, was approved by Moray Council earlier today.

“Only the external appearance of the distillery will change, the exceptional quality of The Macallan, which has been produced for many years using copper stills from Forsyths, will not be compromised and the same focus on attention to detail and personal care of the whisky’s production will be upheld,” said Graham Hutcheon, group operations director for Edrington.

“The new distillery will undoubtedly become one of the most talked about distilleries, not only in Speyside but globally, and we look forward to starting on site soon.”