Gordon & MacPhail unveils Cairngorms distillery plans

Scotch whisky bottler Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled the designs for its proposed distillery in Cairngorms National Park, Scotland.

The proposed distillery will have a circular design and ‘living roof’ to help it blend into its surroundings

Gordon & MacPhail announced plans to construct a distillery in Craggan, near Grantown-on-Spey, last year.

Once constructed, the site will initially produce 375,000 litres of spirit per year, although the distillery will be capable of producing two million litres of alcohol each year.

The site, which has been designed to take advantage of its views across the River Spey, has a circular design to disguise much of the day-to-day workings of the distillery.

It’s proposed construction would utilise a ‘living roof’ to help the building blend into the surroundings.

Ewen Mackintosh, Gordon & MacPhail’s managing director, said: “People are saying how excited they are to see a distillery being proposed for the area as they believe it has the potential to support Grantown-on-Spey as a destination and encourage visitors to stay longer in the town.”

Gordon & MacPhail has worked with architects at NORR to create the designs for the distillery, which will be the first new build Scotch malt whisky distillery to be established in Cairngorms National Park.

Stuart Urquhart, Gordon & MacPhail operations director, said: “We are a long-standing family-owned business with strong roots and commitment to the north of Scotland. Building and operating our second distillery is part of our generational plan to grow a long-term sustainable business, whilst continuing to be part of the fabric of the local community.”

The new distillery will be the company’s second, and follows its purchase and refurbishment of the Benromach Distillery.