Highland distillery Glenmorangie has broken ground on a new still house as part of a multi-million-pound expansion.

Located in the heart of the distillery, the new building will operate in tandem with the existing still house, showcasing two more of Glenmorangie’s signature copper stills – the tallest in Scotland. A separate building will provide additional mashing and fermentation facilities.

Demolition work has already begun on the site. Construction, overseen by Scottish engineering consultancy Blyth+Blyth, is due to begin immediately, with completion scheduled for 2019.

The ceremony was led by Marc Hoellinger, CEO and president of The Glenmorangie Company, and Philippe Schaus, CEO of its parent company Moët Hennessy.

Marc Hoellinger said: “This is an incredibly exciting moment for Glenmorangie. It is particularly fitting that work on the new still house begins in the Distillery’s 175th anniversary year. These ambitious expansion plans will enable Glenmorangie to build on its success and satisfy the world’s increasing appetite for its fine Highland single malt whisky, putting it in a strong position for the next 175 years of exceptional whisky creation.”

Philippe Schaus added: “I am delighted to be present at such a momentous juncture in Glenmorangie’s 175 years of distilling. We are confident that this sizeable investment will allow the Distillery’s growth to continue unabated, and more and more consumers to discover Glenmorangie, as the company continues to capitalise on Moët Hennessy’s unrivalled global distribution network.”