New Whisky distillery for Walkerburn
Walkerburn Distillery proposal – A second proposal in the space of a week has emerged to construct a whisky distillery in the Borders.
A local businessman , Mr Alasdair Day from Stonedean Ltd who currently blends whisky in Coldstream is looking to raise £5m towards the project in the Tweed Valley near Walkerburn. He, along with Mr Chris Duncan, Mill Design spoke in length to the Walkerburn & district Community Council. They discussed the possibility of setting up his own Borders Distillery Company and how he had become attracted to the Caberston Farm Steading as a possible site.
The plans are said to reflect the increasing demand for whisky worldwide.
Last week Mossburn Distillers revealed proposals for a £40m distillery near the Jedforest Hotel at Camptown, three miles south of Jedburgh. The proposed distillery has been called a “huge boost” to the Borders. It is hoped the scheme would create 50 full-time jobs with more than seven million bottles a year produced at the site. Visitor facilities proposed at the premises include a 200-seat restaurant. Earlier this week, the company unveiled plans for a £5m investment on the Isle of Skye.
MSP John Lamont described the plans for the Borders as a “simply phenomenal investment”.
“The proposals put forward by Mossburn Distillers are extremely exciting and would provide a huge boost to the Borders economy,” he said.
“Not only would it see tens of millions of pounds invested in the Jedburgh area, it would create several job opportunities for those living nearby.
“In addition to the increase in tourism we would undoubtedly receive, I am very hopeful that this development will prove to be great news for the Borders.”
He said he looked forward to seeing the proposals being finalised and hoped to see more companies come forward to invest in the region.
Walkerburn is just 2.5 miles from Innerleithen so within walking distance for us. if this plan goes ahead we really won’t be getting any work done! We just feel the recent sale of Caerlee Mill in Innerleithen would have made a fantastic distillery with room for a large visitors centre and would have given the already thriving Innerleithen a huge boost.