Chivas Brothers invests in the sustainable future of Scotch with multi-million-pound expansion of Aberlour distillery
A project for Chivas Brothers, the Pernod Ricard business dedicated to Scotch whisky, in Moray, Scotland will see the expansion of whisky production capacity at the historic Aberlour distillery site.
The Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery has been operational since 1879, and this significant investment in its facilities will not only double capacity at the site, but also showcases the company’s ambitious and innovative operational carbon reduction strategy.
ISG is set to construct three new steel frame structures on site. The first of these buildings is the distillery’s energy recovery centre, which supports Chivas Brothers’ target of reaching carbon neutral distillation by the end of 2026. Featuring high-efficiency Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) fan technology for pot still distillation, this process captures and recycles the heat generated in distillation that would otherwise go to waste by compressing the vapor, which then rises in temperature and is sent back to heat the stills during the distillation process.
The striking turreted design of the new distillery building features extensive areas of curtain walling, housing the stills and mash tuns, providing visitors to the distillery with outstanding views into the nearby woods and across to the River Spey. An external canopy and timber louvres complement and elevate the existing buildings on site, as the distillery interconnects with a new purpose-built process building. Designed to reflect the site’s heritage, the four-storey process building incorporates reclaimed stone from the historic site.
Paul Beaton, ISG’s regional director, added: “Our specialist knowledge and extensive expertise delivering manufacturing facilities, and increasingly high-end visitor attractions and experiential space within the premium drinks sector, continues to create opportunities for ISG across Scotland and beyond.
"We are committed to creating a lasting positive legacy in the communities where we work and at Aberlour we are working closely with local supply chain partners to ensure we prioritise procurement from local organisations, as well as supporting upskilling and creating new employment opportunities. This supports and continues the great work that the Aberlour distillery does every day in the local community."
Paul Beaton, Regional Director, ISG
We are also on site on the island of Islay delivering a number of high-profile projects and recently completed the new Rosebank Distillery in Edinburgh.
