New whisky distillery on Dornoch Firth submits planning application
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A planning application for a new malt whisky distillery on the south bank of the Dornoch Firth has now been submitted to Highland Council.
The Midfearn Distillery Company Ltd. proposes to build its distillery on the Midfearn Estate at Easter Fearn, three miles south-east of the village of Ardgay, on a site close to where whisky was first produced more than 200 years ago.
The submission follows two public consultation events – one face-to-face and one virtual – at which the views of the neighbouring community were sought and local people had to the opportunity to comment on the proposals.
The Easter Fearn site is close to what is believed to be the location of the Midfearn Distillery established in 1798 by local businessman, George Ross. This closed after a few years in operation and Ross went on to work with other local distilling interests.
The 13,000-acre Midfearn Estate has been owned by the Brooke family since 1893.
Charlie Brooke, the current custodian of the estate, said: “We have been determined to ensure that the community’s views are heard and I am enthused by the level of support for the Midfearn Distillery that we have received from local people.
“We are committed to being as sensitive to the local environment as possible, to creating jobs and, of course, to re-introducing the finest of malt whiskies to Midfearn, and we look forward to taking this ambitious project to its next stage.”
