Glasgow-based Scotch blender and bottler Hunter Laing & Co has received approval to build a £8m malt whisky distillery on the island of Islay off the coast of Scotland.  

This firm secured approval from Argyll & Bute Council. Hunter Laing & Co originally announced its plans to build the distillery in January 2015.

Construction work is expected to start in November, with production beginning in early 2018.

"It will be the ninth distillery on the island and the first built in the last ten years."

The distillery will produce single malt whisky and be built at Ardnahoe, near Port Askaig. It will use water from the nearby Ardnahoe Loch and is expected to produce around 200,000l of whisky per annum.

Once constructed, it will be the ninth distillery on the island and the first built in the last ten years.

Hunter Laing founder Stewart Laing was quoted by Heraldscotland.com as saying: “This is the natural next step in the journey of Hunter Laing & Co.

"To be able to work with my sons on the new distillery is a real joy, as is the opportunity to be part of the incredible tradition of whisky-making on Islay, the whole experience is a dream come true.”

Hunter Laing's whisky is exported to over 65 markets.

The firm is run by Stewart Laing along with sons Andrew and Scott.