Sukhinder Singh confirms plans for Islay distillery

Elements of Islay producer Elixir Distillers, co-founded by Sukhinder Singh, has revealed plans to build a new Scotch whisky distillery on Islay.

Aerial view of the proposed Islay distillery by Elixir Distillers

Singh confirmed the company’s intentions to build a new distillery on the Scottish island – which is home to distilleries including Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain and Ardbeg – at a public consultation held at Ramsay Hall in Port Ellen, Islay, yesterday (27 April).

Singh has acquired a plot of land near Port Ellen on Islay’s south coast and will file a planning application once a public consultation has taken place.

If plans are approved, construction could get under way by early 2019.

“Some of the world’s most amazing drams come from Islay,” said Singh. “Their unique style combined with the special character of the island meant there was never any question that we couldn’t choose Islay to build our distillery.

“As soon as I saw the distillery site I fell in love with it. It’s on the holy grail of whisky roads, passing Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg distilleries on the way to Kidalton Cross.

“Plus it’s in the town of Port Ellen, which as a collector of Port Ellen single malt, has a special meaning. It was just too good to resist.”

Earlier this week, Singh – who also co-founded spirits retailer The Whisky Exchange with his brother Rajbir Singh – announced the opening of a second store in Fitzrovia, London, next month.