Loch Indaal, Islay, which the new distillery will overlook.
Chivas – the Scotch whisky arm of drinks giant Pernod Ricard – said today that the new plant would ‘round out its offering of globally recognised malts and blends, which include The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Chivas Regal and Ballantine’s’.
The distillery, which will focus on making a classically Islay style of smoky, peated single malt, will be located at Gartbreck Farm, west of Bowmore at Saltpan Point on the shore of Loch Indaal, with ‘stunning views’ across the loch to Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte.
Chivas said the design of the new facility will be ‘carbon-neutral in distillation from inception’, in line with the company’s goal to be carbon-neutral across all of its distilleries by 2026.
‘This is an important new chapter in the Chivas Brothers story,’ said Jean-Etienne Gourgues, company chairman and CEO. ‘The introduction of an Islay whisky completes our comprehensive and award-winning Scotch portfolio.
‘As a business built on hundreds of years of heritage, it also gives us the opportunity to do something we rarely do, which is to start from scratch.
‘Here on Islay, we can create a blueprint for carbon neutral distilling and continue to usher in this era of sustainable Scotch. We are committed to Scotch, to the Islay community and the landscape that makes it the perfect place to continue our vision to shape the future of whisky.’
Planning permission for a distillery at Gartbreck Farm was originally granted in 2014 to Jean Donnay, the owner
