New Huntly Distillery Given Cash boost

Full article originally appeared in the Press and Journal

AN ABERDEENSHIRE whisky bottler has received a large cash boost which will allow it to accelerate plans to build Scotland?s first carbon-neutral distillery.

Huntly-based Duncan Taylor and Co has been given two Scottish Government grants worth £600,000 for the multimillion-pound project, which will create 16 jobs and safeguard a further 14 in the town.

Managing director Euan Shand said the extra funds means work to build the £5million distillery could start in the next two to three months.

The distillery will be housed in a former creamery off Huntly High Street and produce its own-blend malt whisky as well as gin and vodka.

Annual production is expected to be around 220,000 gallons of alcohol a year.

Mr Shand, the son of a former manager of Glendronach Distillery at nearby Forgue, said: "We are very pleased to have been awarded this grant for the proposed distillery, allowing us to now accelerate our plans to start building this year.

"It's going to be entirely green, using wood-chip fuel, which will make use of the resources in Aberdeenshire, and particularly the Huntly area."

The distillery, which will have a turf roof, will also house offices, a warehouse, bottling plant and visitor centre.

The company began bottling operations in 2003 and now sells malt and blended brands to more than 30 countries, taking advantage of growing global demand for Scotland's national drink.