Isle of Barra Distillers has officially begun construction on its new distillery, where it plans to distil its own whisky for the first time. 

Founded by Barra natives Katie and Michael Morrison in 2017, Isle of Barra Distillers launched as a gin distillery. Plans to build a whisky-distilling facility began in 2021, with the aim to bring single malt production back to Barra. Earlier this month, the brand revealed its first two blended whiskies ahead of breaking ground: the Barra Blended Malt and 10 Years Old Blended Malt.

Isle of Barra says that the £12-million distillery project is expected to bring new jobs to the island as well as increasing tourism through a visitor centre, retail unit, and café. For the initial construction phase Isle of Barra is working with Hebridean firm MacInnes Bros.

Michael Morrison, co-founder, said: "It’s incredibly exciting to see this project finally come to life and to be able to share this moment with our family and the people of Barra. This moment has been a long time coming and we’re all excited to be closing out the year on such a high note. It feels especially significant as 2024 has been so positive for the business — we’ve secured new listings in major supermarkets around the UK, brought in five new members to the team and opened an office over on the mainland.

"We see this project as more than just a development. It’s a transformative step for our island community. We’ve always believed in the far-reaching benefits it will bring to the community and that belief is stronger than ever. And this project showcases how small, remote communities can make bold moves to establish themselves on the global stage."

The distillery is scheduled to open in October 2026, with distillation due to commence soon after. 

Morrison continued: "None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of our stakeholders, the creativity and expertise of the team behind the build, and, most importantly, the loyalty of our incredible customers. A special mention must also go to our extraordinary team at Isle of Barra Distillers. Their passion, hard work, and belief in our vision have driven us forward every single day. To see how far we’ve come this year is no surprise when you have a team like ours behind it all."