Chivas Brothers, the Pernod Ricard business dedicated to Scotch whisky, has announced plans for its first distillery on the isle of Islay which will be carbon neutral in distillation from the start.
It will be first time that Chivas Brothers will have an Islay whisky in its Scotch portfolio, which currently includes The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Chivas Regal and Ballantine’s.
The distillery, which will be located on the picturesque site of Gartbreck Farm, west of Bowmore at Saltpan Point on the shore of Loch Indaal, facing Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte across the loch, and the land purchase signals Chivas Brothers’ long-term intent to become part of the fabric of Islay, as it has been for decades through Speyside and the surrounding areas.
Once operational, its production will focus on Islay single malt, celebrating the region’s distinctly smoky and peated profile.
Jean-Etienne Gourgues, Chairman and CEO at Chivas Brothers said, “This is an important new chapter in the Chivas Brothers story. The introduction of an Islay whisky completes our comprehensive and award-winning Scotch portfolio. As a business built on hundreds of years of heritage, it also gives us the opportunity to do something we rarely do, which is to start from scratch.
“Here on Islay, we can create a blueprint for carbon neutral distilling and continue to usher in this era of sustainable Scotch. We are committed to Scotch, to the Islay community and the landscape that makes it the perfect place to continue our vision to shape the future of whisky.”