‘Monarch of the Glen’ distillery seeks planning permit

Glasgow Whisky has applied to upgrade its Speyside Distillery into an energy-efficient facility.

Glasgow Whisky acquired Tromie Mills Distillery in 2021, which owns the land and buildings comprising Speyside Distillery in Drumguish.

Speyside Distillery dates back to 1956 when the site was bought by George Christie. The land was previously a barley mill and croft from the 1700s.

Fans of the BBC series Monarch of the Glen may recognise the distillery, which featured in the TV show.

Graham Taylor, director at Glasgow Whisky, said: “The building will remain a Scotch whisky distillery, and its primary purpose will not change. We are excited to become part of the low-carbon community and are committed to supporting it through our operations.

“We aim to blend modern developments with respect for the site’s heritage and surroundings, contributing to both the local economy and sustainable growth.”

The redevelopment, if approved, will allow the producer to reach its goal of net-zero carbon emissions in whisky production.

Distillery design experts at Organic Architects will support the development to include the latest energy-efficient technology.

Bari Reid, director at Organic Architects, added: “Energy efficiency within the whisky industry has significantly advanced since the days of ‘Monarch of the Glen’ and certainly since the original distillery was built. To accommodate new technologies, we will need to make changes to the building to allow for heat and water recovery systems in the distilling process.

“Our alterations will harmonise with the existing structures and utilise high-quality materials that complement the original buildings and surroundings of the site. As a result of the improvements, we predict around a 44% reduction in energy consumption per litre of alcohol produced. I’m sure Archie MacDonald and the characters who lived in Glenbogle would have approved of the development.”

In other whisky expansion news, earlier this year Brown-Forman submitted a planning application to expand The GlenDronach Distillery as part of a multi-million-pound investment.

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Author: Melita Kiely