Fife may soon be the source of a new tipple after the green light was given for production of the amber nectar.
Planning permission and listed building consent has been issued for the creation of a micro distillery, cafe and visitor centre at East Newhall Farm, on Cambo Estate.
Those behind the Kingsbarns Company of Distillers hope to soon start transforming the 18th century steading to produce Scotland’s national drink.
Doug Clement and his team have been working on the venture for two years and are delighted that the way has now been paved for it to become a reality.
They have completed the first phase of fund-raising and are about to embark on the second, which includes a Doos o’ the Doocot membership scheme for those who want to become involved but cannot afford the thousands of pounds needed to become full investors.
Fifer Doug has travelled to the opposite side of the world to prepare for setting up the artisan, craft distillery, spending the last two winters in Tasmania.
The “Whisky Island”, as it is increasingly becoming known, has seven working craft distilleries. Doug has secured Bill Lark, the “Australian grandfather of whisky”, as the company’s whisky consultant.Break from traditionHe said, “With his help, Kingsbarns intends to produce a single malt that breaks free from the traditional ‘Lowland lady’ light, sweet and floral style, and instead produce a lightly-peated, full-bodied malt with a big finish.
“We also intend to produce non-matured spirits-gin, schnapps and a liqueur and create Fife’s first distillery visitor centre by the home of golf, encompassing the Doocot Tasting Room, shop, mill cafe and tours.”
A projected micro-distillery near Ladybank failed to materialise due to a lack of investors, but Doug pointed out the Kingbarns Distillery was a very different concept he was confident would succeed.
He said, “Ladybank was set up as a private members club, so when they opened only members and their guests could to visit. We on the other hand will be open to the public and are projecting around 30,000 visitors a year.
“We will not be a private members club like Ladybank would have been, but will be open to everyone. Our location on the main Edinburgh-to-St Andrews coastal touring route and our magnificent historic steading give us a clear advantage over the Ladybank site.
“We have already built relationships with the local golf tour operators, golf courses and hotels, including Fairmont St Andrews, who will all be sending customers our way to learn how to make our national drink, single malt scotch whisky.
“Currently the 750,000 to one million visitors who come to St Andrews each year have to travel outside the Kingdom of Fife to Tullibardine or Edradour to visit a distillery.
“Although there is a private farm distillery outside Cupar, at Daftmill, they do not have visitor facilities and visits are by prior appointment only.”
Despite the tough economic conditions, Doug said continued booming demand for malt Scotch whisky across the world meant their initial phase of fund-raising in 2009 was extremely successful.