IAN Macleod Distillers, in partnership with The Islay Boys, has revealed progress has been made on the construction of a new single malt whisky distillery on Islay.
Laggan Bay will be the 12th whisky distillery on Islay and is due for completion in 2025, when the first spirit will flow from its handmade copper pot stills.
Although full details are still under wraps, Ian Macleod Distillers revealed it has ambitious plans for the distillery. The company’s portfolio of spirits brands includes Glengoyne, Tamdhu, Edinburgh Gin, and the soon to be re-opened Rosebank. The new distillery is a partnership with The Islay Boys, whose newly completed brewery sits next to the distillery at Glenegedale.
Leonard Russell, MD at Ian Macleod Distillers Limited, said, “I am delighted to be partnering with my friends, The Islay Boys, to build Laggan Bay distillery. It’s a very exciting project, which will allow us to offer a brand-new Islay single malt before the end of the decade.”
The Laggan Bay Distillery will feature wetlands to manage its liquid waste and provide a haven for local wildlife. Sister distillery, Glengoyne, north of Glasgow, was the first Scotch whisky distillery to have wetlands to manage its waste, and was recognised with a Green Tourism Gold Award in 2023.
The company is also working with the Islay Energy Trust and Scottish Power to explore renewable energy options and has committed to green flame energy to reduce its carbon emissions.
