Pernod Ricard’s Chivas Brothers Scotch division has purchased land on Islay for a new distillery.
A spokesperson for the unit has confirmed to Global Drinks Intel the subsidiary’s acquisition of Gartbreck Farm on the coast of the western island, near Beam Suntory’s Bowmore distillery. Chivas Brothers will now commence a project to build a facility on the island, which is renowned for the peated characteristics of its single malts, some of which are owned by peers including Diageo, Moët Hennessy and Rémy Cointreau.
Financial details about the land purchase were not disclosed.
“They [Chivas Brothers] are only at the beginning of this project and are currently working with designers and architects to define their vision for their first distillery on Islay,” the spokesperson said. “Once planning permission is achieved, further details will be shared.”
Pernod Ricard’s only other non-mainland Scotch distillery is Scapa on Orkney.
“The introduction of an Islay whisky completes our comprehensive … Scotch portfolio,” said Chivas Brothers’ CEO Jean-Etienne Gorgues. “It also gives us the opportunity to do something we rarely do, which is to start from scratch.”
Gartbreck Farm was previously earmarked for a distillery nine years ago: Jean Donnay, then-owner of Glann ar Mor distillery in Brittany, secured planning permission for the site and is still listed on his LinkedIn profile as the founder & director of Gartbreck Distillery Co. The history is confused further by a land dispute between Donnay and Hunter Laing & Co, the owner of Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay.
Global Drinks Intel has contacted Donnay for clarification.
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