It's whisky galore as CalMac adds extra sailings

EXTRA ferry sailings between Islay and the mainland are to be introduced as a result of a record demand for whisky across the globe.

Caledonian MacBrayne hopes to start extra services later this year to accommodate the increasing number of lorries carrying barrels of world-famous single malts such as Laphroaig and Bowmore.

During the winter, the reduced frequency sailings struggle to cope with demand from the island's eight main distilleries for both importing supplies and exporting whisky.

This has caused major problems for whisky firms seeking to step up production to feed record export sales, led by growing markets in countries such as China and Brazil.

Lorries have to compete for deck space with cars, and this in turn has had an impact on islanders travelling to and from the mainland and tourists attempting to visit the island.

The squeeze follows oil supply problems to the island which hit production earlier this year. However, distillers hope that dredging by Argyll and Bute Council will allow tankers to use a silted-up pier and prevent further shortages this winter.

The Scotch Whisky Association reported in April that whisky exports last year - which accounted for 90 per cent of production - reached a new high of £2.5 billion. Scotland's national drink now accounts for one quarter of all British food and drink leaving the country.

Mark Reynier, the managing director of Bruichladdich, the island's only independent distillery, said the lack of ferry capacity had been strangling the island's economy. Bruichladdich is the distillery with the largest workforce - 47 people - and the only one to bottle its whiskies on the island.

It has increased production to full capacity and plans to open a second distillery in 2009.

Mr Reynier said: "This is great economic news for Islay but the ferry has caused us major problems. Last winter we had ten-day delays with getting bottles and tins onto the island for bottling. We also had to dispatch semi-full containers.

"We have been very disappointed in the past with CalMac's attitude and it is lamentable that this situation has been allowed to develop, but there was a sea change when they realised they had a big problem," Mr Reynier said.

CalMac said it was awaiting Scottish Executive approval to use a second vessel all year round on the link between Port Ellen and Port Askaig on Islay and Kennacraig on Kintyre.

Peter Timms, chairman of CalMac, said: "Over the last several months, CalMac has been working with the distillers on Islay to accommodate their increased production. We believe the outcome of this is in the best interests of all our customers on Islay, including the distillers."