Bushmills distillery plans 62-acre expansion

Bushmills Irish Whiskey has submitted a planning application to build 29 new maturation warehouses as part of a £30 million (US$36.5) development at its County Antrim-based distillery.

The distillery also plans to construct a fine water lagoon, sprinkler pump house and tanks, landscaping and a new access road

The Jose Cuervo-owned company has lodged an application with the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council to expand on to 62 acres of adjacent farmland, with work to be completed in phases over the next two decades.

In addition to 29 maturation warehouses, each 10 metres high, the distillery plans to construct a fine water lagoon, sprinkler pump house and tanks, landscaping and a new access road.

Colum Egan, master distiller at the Old Bushmills Distillery, said: “At Bushmills Irish Whiskey our primary focus is always on making great whiskey and introducing it to more and more discerning whiskey drinkers around the world.

“As part of that growth we have received outline planning permission for the expansion of a new distillery facility on 62 acres of agricultural land surrounding the existing site.

“Extensive consultations have been undertaken with the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and a wide range of statutory bodies, to identify this particular area of land as the preferred site to build.

“It is an exciting time for the Irish whiskey category which continues to experience significant growth and this expansion is an important factor in facilitating the future growth of Bushmills Irish Whiskey.”

Initiated in December 2015, the project is expected to generate approximately £3m of capital expenditure at the distillery every year for the next 10 to 15 years and its completion will “effectively double production capacity”.