Hunter Laing has opened the Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay Island, Scotland.

The £12m ($15.7m) facility is reported to be the island’s ninth Scotch whisky producer and the first new site since 2005.

Hunter Laing managing director Stewart Laing said: “Since working as a teenager at Bruichladdich Distillery over 50 years ago, I have had a huge affinity with Islay and its malt whiskies.

“When we decided to build our own distillery, there was only one possible location. We have built a great team to manage the distillery and run the visitor centre and in a few years’ time we will be able to drink a great whisky in the classic Islay style, staying true to the island’s heritage with a heavily peated malt.”

“In a few years’ time, we will be able to drink a great whisky in the classic Islay style.”

The new distillery is expected to create 30 new jobs in the region and attract nearly 20,000 visitors every year.

Located on the northeast coast of Islay, Ardnahoe Distillery was opened by British politician George Robertson and is equipped with Scottish-made lamp glass stills, worm tub condensers and wooden washbacks.

The new distillery will be involved in the production of peated spirits, which will be matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and ex-Sherry casks.

Hunter Laing has appointed Jim McEwan as the master distiller for the new facility.

The Ardnahoe distillery will also feature a visitor centre, a retail store, whisky bar and restaurant.

In September 2016, Hunter Laing received approval to build an £8m malt whisky distillery on Islay Island.

Having also secured approval from Argyll & Bute Council, Hunter Laing originally planned to build the distillery in January 2015.

Hunter Laing is a UK-based Scotch whisky blender and bottler.