Brewer lobbies Diageo for early Rosebank reopening

ARRAN Brewery boss Gerald Michaluk has urged spirits 
giant Diageo to allow him to start making whisky at the 
legendary Rosebank distillery before current restrictions 
expire in 2017.

Diageo – Scotland’s largest distiller and owner of brands including Bell’s, J&B and 
Johnnie Walker – closed the distillery in 1993 and wrote a clause into the sale contract to stop whisky from being made at the site until 2017.

Michaluk bought Rosebank last week from Scottish Canals and vowed to turn the facility into a brewery, visitors’ centre and a “micro-distillery”.

Now Arran Brewery has told Scotland on Sunday that it has “formally requested release from the restriction”.

Michaluk added: “I am hopeful that – being reasonable chaps and given the public support for the project, and Rosebank’s iconic status in 
the world of whisky lovers – they will simply agree to our humble request.”

Restarting production at the Falkirk site is the latest stage in a £10 million expansion for Arran Brewery, which last month merged with the Isle of Skye Brewery and unveiled plans to open a chain of pubs.

Michaluk is currently in talks with investors to expand the brewery on Arran. A bottling hall will also be opened at Rosebank.

A spokesman for Diageo said it had yet to receive a letter from Arran Brewery. He added: “It would not be appropriate to comment on our intentions for the Rosebank brand name in 2017 or at any other point in time.”