Eden Mill to double whisky capacity with new distillery

Scottish beer and spirits producer Eden Mill has revealed further details of its new £3.1 million (US$3.9m) distillery in St Andrews, Fife, which is expected to be completed by summer 2020.

The Scottish producer first revealed plans to build a new distillery and brewery in St Andrews in February 2018. The expansion is part of a longer-term £8m (US$10.1m) investment programme.

Eden Mill previously submitted a planning application to convert historic paper mill buildings, once home to the Seggie Distillery and Brewery, into a distillery and brewery.

Now, the re-development will occur at a different location on the same overall site within the University of St Andrews’ new Eden Campus, which provides a “more flexible” location “for further expansion and capacity increase”. The new location is at the edge of the estuary overlooking the river up to St Andrews.

Paul Miller, co-founder of Eden Mill, told The Spirits Business: “The previous location was great in terms of history but ultimately impractical for the distillery when plans were developed in detail.”

The “state-of-the-art” facility will allow Eden Mill to increase its whisky capacity from 300,000 litres per annum (approximately 428,571 700ml bottles) to more than one million bottles per year.

The new site aims to achieve a zero-carbon footprint with an “emphasis on sustainable whisky production”. Eden Mill also intends to create a “strong green supply chain to benefit the local economy”.

The upgrade involves approximately £1.1m (US$1.4m) in building works and £2m (US$2.5m) in plant expansions.

As the project commences, Eden Mill will continue to employ around 20 members of staff in the area. The Scottish producer will also occupy a temporary distillery to maintain current production supply requirements.

“The Eden Mill at the Eden Campus is the perfect location to create our innovative new distillery and production facility,” said Miller.

“The demand for the Eden Mill wide range of whisky and gin products is growing at a rapid pace and this modern new plant will help us satisfy that demand and expand even further.”