Back
Ainscough’s Invergordon Depot has successfully completed the lift of two whiskey stills into the skeleton of the building at the new £15 million Ardross Distillery development.
Located in the scenic Averon Valley, 30 miles north of Inverness, the project for Ardross Investments Ltd involves the refurbishment and extension of a dilapidated farm complex on a private 50-acre site that includes Loch Dubh.
Working for main contractor Morrison Construction, the Ainscough team used a Liebherr LTM1055-3.1. to lift the two copper stills through the steel frame of the partially completed building.
Once part of Ardross Mains Farm established in the nineteenth century, the steading buildings, farm house and cottages have been retained for use in the new distillery venture. Stone and slate, salvaged from existing buildings that have collapsed, have been used to rebuild walls and roofs of the development.
Walls at the rear of the main steading will be removed and rebuilt to increase the size of the building for a two-storey still house, tun room, mash house and milling area. This building will surround two large courtyards with parking to the front.
The two detached one-and-a-half storey cottages to each side of the main steading will become offices and staff accommodation. An old dairy building behind the staff accommodation will become a blending and product development lab. A three-storey house at the rear of the site will become a vaulted cask storage area and marketing suite, the boiler house will also be located at the side of this building.
Rebekah Tippett, Depot Manager at Invergordon, said: “It is fantastic to be part of this historic development and part of the history of the Highlands. We required a calm day to complete the lifts of the stills as threading them through the steel frame of the building needed a very careful approach with no variables. Happy to say the lifts were completed without a hitch and we look forward to sampling the stills’ produce sometime down the line.”
