Speyside Distillers gets go ahead for new site

Scotch whisky producer Speyside Distillers Company has gained planning permission for a new distillery in Cairngorms National Park.

Single malt whisky and gin maker Speyside Distillers operates the Speyside Distillery near Kingussie in the foothills of the Cairngorms National Park. The firm produces the Spey and Beinn Dubh single malt whisky brands and Byron’s Gin.

The new development will be located in Laggan, near the Spey Dam, and will include a marketing suite, distillery, powerhouse, offices and maturation warehouses.

The move will bring all aspects of the production process together while maintaining the company’s link to the River Spey.

Speyside Distillers Company has outgrown its current facility and the new site will enable the producer to mature its whisky on site to improve sustainability.

The planning committee of the Cairngorms National Park Authority approved the project, which will help to minimise travel to the Central Belt of Scotland.

Park Authority planning officer Katherine Donnachie said: “The application seeks to replace and expand an existing distillery, securing its sustainable future and local jobs, which is to be welcomed.

“The design and landscaping of the site will help the new development to sit well in the landscape with no adverse impacts on local cultural and historic assets. Overall, the proposed development is considered acceptable and recommended for approval.”

In January 2021, Speyside Distillers revealed plans to open a second single malt distillery in the region.

Gordon & MacPhail also secured planning approval to build a distillery in the Cairngorms National Park in October 2019, called The Cairn.