A Georgian mansion could become home to a new gin and rum distillery.
Laura Clark has applied to West Dunbartonshire Council to part change the use of Milton House in Dumbarton from a residential dwelling to a distillery.
She wants to make small-batch craft gins and rums in the manor house with hopes for them to be sold at Waitrose, bars and independent stores in Loch Lomond and Glasgow.
The new business would be called Lady Liquor Distillery and be a small operation with only one person making the alcohol and another helping with packing and distribution.
The planning application states that the proposal is for “a nano-distillery for the production of small-batch, hand-crafted rum and gin”.
The sprawling, B-listed property has a nine-acre estate which would house the distillery, storage and distribution.
It is said to have been built in 1794 for the manager of the nearby mill which gave the area its name and was once described as “like a pink doll’s house, overlooking the Clyde”.
A supporting statement to planning chiefs says there will be no staffing or transport increases in the quiet area due to it being a small operation.
It states: “The proposal is for two 30l split top, rotating column, alembic stills with welded thermometer.
“The copper sheets are thicker and high quality, with brass locking and unlocking unions between the lid, swan neck pipe and the condensing recipient to avoid the escape of odours.
“As the aspirations of Lady Liquor Rum are limited to a single person craft producer there will be no transport or staffing increase.
“In terms of staffing there will be no permanent staff as it is a craft, cottage industry-type production.
“There will be one other person to help with packaging and distribution and distribution will utilise our existing single car transport through Helensburgh and Glasgow only.”
The still distilling will take place in the kitchen area of the house, with a projected output of between 150 and 200 bottles every four months.
Documents submitted to the planning department say sales will be aimed at Waitrose supermarkets.
They explain: “Waitrose has a history of selling locally produced goods and we will set up a meeting with samples at the stores.
“With bases in Glasgow, we will approach pubs and bars that we already have connections with.
“Again we aim to supply to independent stores that we have connections with in the Loch Lomond and Glasgow area.
“Existing Twitter and Instagram presence will be utilised to create and progress branding. Ladyliquor.co.uk has been bought and parked.
“In addition, registering Facebook and Instagram will open up both local markets.”
The nano-distillery would join an industry that is growing throughout Scotland. The boom in craft spirits fuelled a 20 per cent increase in UK distillery businesses last year.
