A family-run micro-distillery in Wester Ross is set to scale up its ambitions after securing more than £105,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to support a major expansion into malt whisky production.
Badachro Distillery Ltd, founded in 2018 by husband-and-wife team Gordon and Vanessa Quinn in the grounds of their home at Gairloch, has grown from a garden-shed start-up into an international artisan brand in just a few years. The business now produces a premium range of gins, vodkas and rums, alongside small-batch whiskies, supplying retail, trade, contract, bottling and export markets, while also operating a visitor shop, tours and tastings. Its steady expansion has already seen the workforce grow to a team of six, reflecting the distillery’s increasing role in the local economy.
Now the company is preparing for its next stage of growth following a £105,215 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which will help fund the development of a new small malt whisky distillery on site. Plans include constructing an extension with a new stillhouse, installing specialist whisky distillation equipment, upgrading the electricity supply and adding a PV solar system. The low-carbon energy element of the project aligns with the region’s net zero ambitions and is designed to make the business more sustainable in the long term.
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By moving further into whisky production and increasing overall capacity, Badachro Distillery aims to strengthen its resilience through additional turnover and international sales. The project is expected to create at least one new job and enhance the visitor experience in the Gairloch area, building on the distillery’s established reputation as a destination for tastings and tours. As the only whisky distillery on the west coast section of the NC500 route, its expanded offer is anticipated to attract more visitors and spend to the wider Wester Ross economy.
Badachro has received support throughout its growth journey from the HIE-led Food and Drink TechHUB, part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, and sits within an area identified by the agency as a priority for inclusive growth investment. Jaynie Ireland, development officer with HIE’s Lochaber Skye and Wester Ross team, said the project would reinforce the business’s role in the local community. “Badachro Distillery has grown to become a key part of the tourism offering in and around Gairloch, as well as a valuable local employer,” she said. “This project will strengthen the company’s resilience and the contribution it makes to the local economy.”
Managing director Gordon Quinn highlighted the importance of public sector backing in helping the business grow from a small rural start-up to a recognised visitor attraction and exporter. He described HIE’s support as “invaluable” across training, consultancy and partial funding, and said the latest round of investment would accelerate the distillery’s ambitions. “The significant investment by our business, supported by investing by HIE, has resulted in the creation of the only whisky distillery on the NC500’s west coast, bringing visitors, employment, local economic benefits and advancement of our net-zero journey,” he said.
