Eydent Distillery gets planning approval
Planning permission has been granted to Eydent Distillers to build a new whisky distillery in Ormiston, Scotland.
The plans for the new whisky distillery were officially approved by East Lothian Council on 1 December, subject to the condition that the works at the former agricultural site begin within three years of the decision.
Located in East Lothian in the Scottish Lowlands, the site is expected to become the council area’s second distillery, joining Diageo’s Glenkinchie Distillery in Pencaitland.
Eydent Distillers was established by Ollie Salvesen, a former Glenkinchie Distillery employee and Heriot-Watt University graduate, and distillery operations consultant Jack Mayo.
According to the decision notice given to Dissident Spirits (renamed as Eydent Distillers on 11 December 2025), the planning permission was granted for ‘alterations, change use of agricultural buildings and land to whisky distillery, whisky cask storage, and associated works’ at East Mains.
The proposed distillery will produce single malt whisky and small batches of gin and other spirits, with a total annual production run of approximately 140,000 bottles.
Upon completion, the distillery is expected to create five full-time jobs, with plans to expand the staff to 12 within six years.
Although the plans have been approved, the company must fulfil additional requirements before construction can begin. This includes submitting details of the proposed Biodiversity Enhancement scheme for the site and conducting investigations into the area’s safety, given its coal-mining legacy.
Eydent Distillers plans to launch its gin in early 2026.
Related news
Cotswolds Distillery debuts Highgrove Evergreen whisky
Japan’s Shindo Distillery releases first whisky
Argentinian distillery bottles world’s first Antarctic-aged whisky
