The Glasgow-based independent whisky bottler and blender Brave New Spirits have today submitted the final planning application to Argyll & Bute council, for a new single malt whisky distillery at the former RAF Machrihanish airbase in Campbeltown.

The Witchburn Distillery, which will be located between Campbeltown Airport and Machrihanish Village, will use traditional distilling craftsmanship to produce unpeated, lightly peated and heavily peated malts.

The new Net Zero carbon production distillery – which will produce 2 million litres of alcohol per year, will be powered by 100% green renewable energy sources and the latest in heat and energy recovery systems, making Witchburn one of the most environmentally friendly distilleries in Scotland. The distillery is planning to run 24/7, to ensure it keeps reusing as much heat and energy as possible.

Witchburn takes its name from the word Witch: originally meaning folk healers, mostly ‘wise women’ using herbs and the power of imagination. Previously amongst the most respected people in village life. Burn: coming from the Scots Gaelic for a naturally occurring freshwater stream or very small river that flows into a larger river.

When complete Witchburn will operate with 1 mash tun – with a capacity of 5 tons; 16 washbacks – each with a capacity of 30,000 litres, allowing for a fermentation period of 96 hours or more; 2 wash stills – each with a capacity of 16,000 litres and 2 spirit stills – each witha capacity of 7,000 litres.

Witchburn has a carefully planned wood policy, with the majority of its spirit to be filled into barrels from famous American Bourbon producers, Oloroso Sherry casks from various Bodegas, selected Tawnyand Ruby Port barriques and organic Bordeaux wine barriques. The distillery will mature its casks in on-site warehousing close to the sea, andin warehouses in the Campbeltown area.

Production at Witchburn will be headed by founding Master Distiller, Andrew Nairn, former Distillery Manager of Glenkinchie, Strathmill and Borders Distillery, who said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work with Organic Architects and Frilli to develop a distillery to produce a truly great Campbeltown Spirit to combine traditional artisan methods of whisky-making with the latest green technology is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Witchburn, which plans to create around 30 permanent new jobs in production, warehousing and distribution also plans to open a visitors’ centre in the next few years.

Commenting on the news, joint owners of Brave New Spirits and the new Witchburn Distillery, Adam Hochul and Alexander Springensguth, said: “We are looking forward to becoming part of the community. Contributing to the already worldwide reputation of Campbeltown whisky. We could not find a better location to build our first still house. The distillery is a great addition to our existing portfolio of internationally recognized brands of Scotch whisky, but also an opportunity to give back to the outstanding community of Scottish whisky distillers.”

“The whole design aims to produce a typical, complex and full-bodied Campbeltown malt. Our aim is to recreate a whisky like it has been produced many decades ago.”

Subject to planning application approval and schedules, production at Witchburn Distillery will commence in the last quarter of 2024.

About Brave New Spirits: Established in 2020, Brave New Spirits is a multi-award-winning independent whisky bottler and blender which releases small-batch and single cask Scotch whiskies in over 30 countries, under the Whisky of Voodoo, Cask Noir, and Yellow Edition brands. It has its own warehouse in Glasgow, with a second currently being prepared on the site. The company currently employs a team of 25 and has recently appointed are presentative in Japan, to cover Asia.