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Plans unveiled for £15m Wolfcraig whisky distillery
The former chief executive of Whyte & Mackay has revealed plans to build a new £15 million (US$19m) Scotch whisky distillery near Stirling.
An artist’s impression of the Wolfcraig Distillery near Stirling
The Wolfcraig Distillery project will incorporate a distillery, an interactive, education-focused visitor attraction, private tasting room and a 180-cover bistro restaurant and bar.
The site is the brainchild of Michael Lunn, former chairman and chief executive of Whyte & Mackay, and co-directors John Moore and Jamie Lunn.
The management team will be made up of Dr Alan Rutherford OBE, a former production director at Diageo, former Bacardi UK operations director Iain Lochhead, and Ian Macmillan, the former master distiller of Lowland distillery Bladnoch.
The facility will have the capacity to produce up to 1.5m litres of spirit per year and will make premium Wolfcraig Highland single malt Scotch whisky and a range of spirits.
Subject to planning approval, construction is expected to begin in spring 2021 with the distillery due to open in summer 2022. The site will employ around 50 full-time workers.
The distillery’s interactive visitor centre will showcase tales of Scotch whisky and the history of Stirling. The site will offer tours and a range of different experiences and masterclasses.
The project seeks to further establish the city of Stirling as a major food and drink tourist destination. The producer also hopes to operate a shuttle service between the distillery, the train station and Stirling Castle.
“Our distillery will encourage visitors and tourists to spend more time in and around Stirling, helping to boost both the local and national economies,” said Lunn.
“In addition to producing a premium Highland single malt, we want to offer a state-of-the-art immersive experience for people of all ages and knowledge levels. Our research indicates the distillery could attract around 90,000 visitors in its first year given its proximity to Glasgow and Edinburgh.”
The site has secured initial private funding with further investment opportunities being made available to the public through founder membership packages.