Eight independent Scotch whisky distillers have demanded clarity from the Scottish Government on whether their visitor centres qualify for a business rates holiday.
Isle of Raasay Distillery, Ardnamurchan Distillery, Isle of Harris Distillers, Holyrood Distillery, Nc'Nean, Ardnahoe Distillery, Kingsbarns Distillery and Lindores Abbey Distillery have signed a joint letter.
They say their businesses depend mainly on tourism and events and that they qualify for the 12 month rates holiday for firms that mainly or wholly depend on hospitality for business.
Each of the businesses, they say either employ 51% of their staff in, make 51% of their income from or devote 51% of floor space to the sector.
They wrote: "We recognise and appreciate the support of the Scottish and UK governments with various programmes that have been put in place to address the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, not least of which is support for our valuable employees.
"Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic we have been required to close our visitor centres, including cafes and retail shops. We are all SMEs: modest, independent craft distilleries which all rely heavily on a business model that welcomes tourists, weddings and other events to earn revenue."
The distilleries say some of them have been rejected for a rates holiday while others are still waiting for a decision from their local authority.
They continue: "This letter, therefore, requests the Scottish Government provides clarity to local authorities on qualification by these distilleries: some of the signatories have been refused and others are seeking confirmation from their Councils.
"Collectively, we greeted over 200,000 visitors in 2019 and employ around 110 visitor experience staff, many of them in rural locations. We are all proud to have created a substantial number of jobs in the communities in which we operate our distilleries."
