Family gin firm gets nod for new distillery

A family-run gin company has sought plans to create a distillery in Lochaber.

The team behind Arisaig Gin infuses the drink with botanicals from Creag Mhor Croft and bladderwrack seaweed from the shores of the area.

They also handcraft the gin on family land which dates back to the 1800s.

Now, the company has sought permission to transform a static caravan into office space and a shed into a micro gin distillery, near to the applicant’s home at Creag Mhor.

Highland Council approved plans this

“It is therefore recommended that permission is granted”

week. They stated: “The caravan and shed are existing and sit in relative isolation from any other development.

“There are therefore no issues with regard to siting and design, or impact on amenity.

“It is submitted that an individual still will be utilised which can produce 25l of gin to be bottled on site and taken off site for onward sale.

“Bottled water is to be brought on to site and it is not proposed that any water will be abstracted from nearby sources at this time.

“At this time no additional infrastructure is required to accommodate the change of use and distillery.

“It is therefore recommended that permission is granted subject to a condition which clarifies that there shall be no sale of product on site as this has the potential to generate additional traffic and impacts which have not been assessed as part of this application.”