Kilchoman to expand warehousing with £450k loan
Kilchoman Distillery is expanding its Scotch warehouse facilities on Islay following a £450,000 bank loan.
Kilchoman’s Machir Bay is a mix of four and five-year-old single maltsThe distillery, which currently produces around 120,000 litres of alcohol a year, is hoping to store an additional 8,000 to 9,000 casks at the bonded warehouse once built.
It’s thought that the investment by Clydesdale Bank could be part of future plans for Kilchoman, which currently releases relatively young whisky, to move into more aged, premium products.
Anthony Wills, managing director of Kilchoman Distillery, said: “Launching a new distillery is a big challenge financially. One of the difficulties is that you constantly need to invest in storage because the spirit must be matured for several years before it can be sold as single malt.
“Even though the business is growing, some banks ran a mile when we sought investment. Thanks to Clydesdale Bank we now have the facilities we require to help us grow.”
Currently the brand’s largest markets are the US, Sweden, Germany, France and the UK, although it also has distribution in Taiwan and Japan.
The distillery recently announced the release of its Kilchoman Machir Bay 2013, a 46% abv single malt comprised of a mix of four and five year old ex-Bourbon casks, with the four-year-olds being finished in Oloroso Sherry butts. It is the second release in the distillery’s Machir Bay range, and available globally for £39.99 per 750ml bottle.
“The 2013 Machir Bay displays further evolution of the 2012 release, showing more maturation flavours from the excellent cask regime and is softer and more rounded with lovely creamy mouth- filling flavours,”added John MacLellan, Kilchoman Distillery manager.
