Thompson Brothers has launched a crowdfunding campaign hoping to raise £1.8m to fund the construction of the Struie Distillery.
The Sutherland-based distillers, bottlers and blenders plan to build the distillery less than 200 meters from its current site, Dornoch Distillery.
It should have a production capacity far exceeding the original distillery, producing up to 20 times more Dornoch single malt, which has seen oversubscription with every release.
Every aspect of production except malting will be handled on-site, from liquid creation to blending, bottling, labelling and shipping.
The new distillery, designed by Leask Architects, should also create 10 new jobs in the local area.
Using patent-pending technology, including a unique still and condenser design which has been designed to run from on-site generated renewable energy sources, the distillery aims to operate with zero carbon emissions across scope one and two.
Since 2016, Phil and Simon Thompson have grown Thompson Brothers into an independent whisky business, with output of whisky casks, independent bottlings and gin.
“Our vision is to create a distillery that not only produces exceptional spirits, but also sets a new standard for environmental responsibility in the industry,” said Phil. “Since my brother and I first dreamt of a new distillery, everything we’ve done has been building towards that goal.
“This crowdfunding campaign is about financing the build through the support of the wonderful whisky community that will help us to grow and share more Sutherland spirits with the world, all whilst bringing more long-term non-seasonal employment to the region we call home.”
Simon said: “We’re building Struie Distillery with a blend of past, present and future thinking.
“The goals we’ve put in place are about making great whisky right away, utilising many old-style production principles that we already run at Dornoch Distillery, but also building something unique and sustainable that will raise the bar globally for what distillers can do to protect the environment for the future.”
The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise £1.8m as part of an overall raise of £5m into Thompson Independent Traders, the group that consists of Dornoch Castle Hotel, Dornoch Distillery Company, Thompson Brothers Independent bottling and blending, as well as the new distillery development.
The additional £3.2m will come from a combination of new and existing investors via a Series A fundraise.
Seperately, Gin Bothy has unveiled more detailed plans for its new whisky distillery, set within a sporting estate in Glen Prosen, which is owned by Forestry and Land Scotland.
The estate once formed part of a whisky smuggling route in the 19th century. A planning application has been submitted to revitalise the site.
Designed by Organic Architects, the building aims to repurpose a steading that was previously used for storage and garages by Forestry and Land Scotland. The new design makes the most of the existing structure, only making external alterations where necessary and preserving the look of the building.
Bari Reid, director at Organic Architects, said: "Our approach focuses on preserving the character of the original building, ensuring the distillery seamlessly blends into its mountainous surroundings.
"We aimed to create a space that not only produces exceptional whisky for Gin Bothy’s first venture into Scotch, but also nestles into the local landscape and community."
Kim Cameron, director and founder of Gin Bothy, said: "The history of the site, once part of an old whisky smuggling route, makes this project even more special.
"Working with Organic Architects, we are committed to revitalising this incredible location with care and purpose to create a distillery that honours the past, brings legal distilling to the area, and supports the future of our rural community."
To minimise the environmental and traffic impact, the distillery will be open by appointment only, ensuring a tailored experience for visitors.
The Bothy Distillery will offer an “immersive whisky retreat” experience and has been designed with sustainability in mind, running on hydroelectricity and using sustainable waste removal processes.
A visitor centre is set to welcome guests in July and production will commence in August; producing around 300 casks in its first year.
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