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Whisky distillery to open in Inner Mongolia
Energy producer Mengtai Group has unveiled plans to build a whisky distillery in Inner Mongolia, China, next year.
L-r: Ao Fengting, vice chairman of Mengtai and David Valentine MBE, chairman of Valentine International, sign a contract for the build of a new distillery in Inner Mongolia
The distillery, which will be based in the city of Ordos in Inner Mongolia, will be built and designed by Valentine International.
A six-figure contract to construct the site was signed by Ao Fengting, vice chairman of China-based Mengtai Group and David Valentine MBE, chairman and owner of Valentine International, during the 15th World Chinese Entrepreneurs’ Convention in London last month.
The project is expected to be worth more than £3 million (US$3.8m) to suppliers in Scotland, according to the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC). Two other Scottish whisky equipment companies are “in the final stages” of coming on board.
Fengting said: “My ambition is not just to produce China’s best quality whisky but one that is globally recognised in terms of world rankings.
“Scotland is the ‘home of whisky’ and has the greatest expertise in terms of distillery equipment manufacture and know how. So, we are confident that Valentine International will deliver a world beating project for us in Ordos.’
Valentine added: “Building a distillery in Inner Mongolia is the brainchild of Mengtai’s chairman Mr Ao Fengting whose ambition is to create China’s best and globally award-winning whisky.”
“Mengtai will provide all of the buildings and ancillary accommodation required to establish the distillery in Ordos costing several million pounds.
“However, the production equipment will be manufactured here in Scotland and shipped to Inner Mongolia for assembly by Scottish engineers. The initial phase of distillery production equipment will create a circa £2.5m (US$3.2m) export order for Scotland.
“The project will deliver a multi-million-pound export bonus for at least two other Scottish companies, still to be contracted, for the design and build of the distillery production equipment and for the supply of bulk whiskies.
“As the project progresses there will be further opportunities for skilled industry experts to oversee the operation during the initial phases of the development.’’
In August this year, French firm Pernod Ricard revealed plans to build China’s first malt whisky distillery.