Plans have been unveiled for another new whisky distillery for Islay taking the number of production sites on the Hebridean island up to 12.
Island natives and owners of Islay Ales, Mackay Smith and Donald MacKenzie, have announced planning permission for a distillery and brewery building at Glenegedale in Laggan Bay.
The pair, who are known as The Islay Boys and who have also been independently bottling their own range of whiskies, say they will christen the new site, which will be number 12 on the island, Laggan Bay Distillery.
The application, approved by Argyll and Bute Council, allows the duo to advance with plans to build a distillery building to house a traditional, double-distillation Islay whisky.
In addition, the joint brewing and distilling site, which will extend to two hectares, will house a brew kit for their Islay Ales. It will be located just opposite the airport in the centre of Islay, and is situated less than a mile from the island’s longest beach, the Big Strand.
As part of the project, The Islay Boys have announced a partnership with family-owned Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd to help bring the new distillery to fruition.
The Islay Boys have a long-standing relationship with Leonard Russell, chairman of Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd, who said: "I have known and worked with the Islay Boys for a long time, and I’m delighted to be able to bring our long experience in creating quality Scotch Single Malts to the Laggan Bay Distillery project."
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