The whisky industry is a key part of the Highland and Moray economies, known worldwide for its craftsmanship and tradition. Recognising this, W M Donald’s North team has grabbed the opportunity to support distilleries as they expand and modernise, showcasing the team’s speed, scale, and adaptability.
How It Began
The journey started with the opening of the Inverness office; the team quickly recognised the whisky sector’s importance to the local economy. Engaging with clients and designers, they showcased how W M Donald could contribute to different projects. These conversations opened doors, allowing the team to start providing essential infrastructure and groundwork services to leading distilleries.
What We Do
From upgrading existing roads and floors to laying new foundations and creating warehouse infrastructure, W M Donald has proven itself as a trusted partner in the whisky sector, providing a range of services, which include:
- Constructing concrete access roads for distillery buildings.
- Installing foundations for essential structures, such as pipe bridges and vehicular bridges.
- Delivering robust infrastructure for new warehouse facilities, including sewers, tracking, and water tanks.
Helping Solve Challenges
Warehousing and barrel ageing are vital to the whisky-making process, requiring precision-engineered spaces to store maturing whisky securely. Distilleries face challenges such as:
- Maximising storage capacity while maintaining optimal ageing conditions.
- Minimising disruptions to daily operations during construction.
W M Donald’s ability to collaborate closely with clients ensures that projects are delivered efficiently and without compromising the flow of goods — a critical factor in this competitive industry.
Why the Whisky Sector is a Great Fit
The whisky industry demands a partner who understands its unique requirements: phased works, seamless collaboration, and quick turnarounds. W M Donald’s proven track record of minimising disruption and meeting tight schedules makes us the ideal choice.
Building on Experience
The success in the whisky sector is built on lessons learned across other industries. Whether managing challenging programmes or fostering collaborative relationships, our approach ensures products keep flowing while construction progresses.
As we continue to partner with distilleries across Scotland, the North team’s expansion into this sector underscores W M Donald’s commitment to innovation and excellence.
Notable Projects
Whyte & Mackay, Invergordon
Successfully completed the first phase of infrastructure for new warehouses, which included roads, sewers, water tanks, and foundations, in collaboration with Compass.
Glendronach Distillery
Upgrading existing buildings with modern concrete access roads and constructing foundations for new pipe and vehicular bridges, in partnership with Morrison Construction.
Want to read more?
This article featured in our latest Winter edition of our company magazine From The Ground Up. You can view the magazine by following the link below:
