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Wemyss Malts to build whisky distillery in Fife

Published:  09 January, 2013

The Wemyss family, owner of Wemyss Malts has announced it is to build a single malt whisky distillery and visitor centre on the back of a grant from the Scottish government.

The Wemyss family, owner of Wemyss Malts has announced it is to build a single malt whisky distillery and visitor centre on the back of a grant from the Scottish government.

The Kingsbarns Distillery situated near Kingsbarns, Fife (approximately six miles from St Andrews) will be built within sight of the Kingsbarns championship golf course, on land which will be leased from Sir Peter Erskine of the Cambo Estate. The site of the distillery will be the historic East Newhall Farm steading.

The development of the existing listed building will begin in early 2013, with a view to beginning distilling and welcoming visitors a year later.


Founder William Wemyss said: "This rare opportunity to distil our own single malt whisky and develop a new Scotch whisky brand to support our existing business as an independent bottler will secure the family interest in Scotch for the next generation. We are delighted to be working with the Scottish government, Sir Peter Erskine and Kingsbarns Distillery founder Doug Clement to bring a new distillery and visitor centre to the East Fife area."

The Wemyss family has links with the whisky industry going back to the turn of the 19th century, when John Haig (founder of Haig) built his first distillery on Wemyss land, and since 2005 with the independent bottler Wemyss Malts.

It produces a blended malt whisky range comprising the Spice King, the Peat Chimney and the Hive, as well as single malt single cask bottlings and the recently launched 15-year-old blended Scotch named Lord Elcho after one of the family's ancestors.

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