Benbecula distillery plans

The Uist Distilling Company has revealed plans to build a £6.5 million whisky distillery at Gramsdale on Benbecula.

The distillery will produce high-quality spirits including single malt whisky, rum and gin, each with a unique Hebridean flavour.

Also included is a visitor centre with a food outlet, championing freshly made local products.

A planning application will be submitted this week to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar with production hoping to start in early 2022.

“Pioneering and innovate” low carbon technologies are also proposed in the design, build and distillation process.

The building design will incorporate large glazed areas on either side of the building, showcasing the copper whisky stills and visitor centre. This will allow whisky-lovers from around the world to take in the truly magnificent views of North Uist’s white sandy beaches, the Monach Isles and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the hills of Harris to the north, and the Isle of Skye to the east while visiting the distillery.

The Uist Distilling Company is owned by local businessmen Angus A MacMillan and his son Angus E MacMillan, who not only want to produce single malt whisky but also rum and gin, all with a “Hebridean twist” to present to the national and international market.

Angus A MacMillan, chairman and chief executive, says the distillery and visitor centre will bring 25 secure, high-quality jobs to the island, along with around 60-70 indirect jobs for suppliers, farmers, crofters transport and other local and national businesses.

Mr MacMillan said: “The new distillery aims to be a champion of all things Hebridean and Scottish and will provide a huge boost to tourism in the area. We want to produce whisky, rum and gin that will put Benbecula and the Hebrides firmly on the whisky tourist trail, while introducing the products we make to a national and international clientele.”

He added: “I want to build strong relationships with other island distilleries so that we support the economic prospects of Scotland and our wider international industry.”

Operations director, Angus E MacMillan said having a low carbon footprint is key to the plans.

“We are working with industry experts to design a spirit production process which is powered by renewable energy sources, this will lower the carbon output of the distillery and ensure we are at the forefront of the whisky industry’s move away from the use of fossil fuels.”

Community engagement drop-in sessions are planned in the coming weeks, where islanders will have the opportunity to see the plans in more detail and ask questions about the project.

Businessman Angus MacMillan unveils £6.5 million distillery plans for Benbecula

29 July 2020