A whisky war involving a millionaire businessman and a community group has broken out in a remote corner of the Highlands.
Durness-born construction tycoon David Morrison and a team of locals have both unveiled plans for new distilleries – just a mile apart.
Mr Morrison is prepared to invest up to £1million in his project and claims the community group snubbed the chance to join him in the venture.
Either project would be a boost for a fragile economy in an area struggling to retain its young blood.
Both the would-be single malt producers have set their sights on separate crofts on the western shore of Loch Eriboll in north-west Sutherland.
They have both had talks with development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Local community leaders, meanwhile, have welcomed the rivalry and are optimistic both schemes will happen.
They are also excited by the prospect of up to a dozen long-term, post-construction jobs and a potentially significant spin-off for local tourism.
Mr Morrison has registered “Loch Eriboll Distillery Ltd”, which plans to open a whisky, gin and vodka distillery plus a micro brewery on a two-acre site.
The community plan, through the Durness Development Group (DDG), involves a distillery and brewery along with a neighbouring slipway at Port Chamuill, which could then lead to a grander harbour and cafe project with a smokehouse and small hydro scheme.
Everything hinges on permission being granted for the respective plots to be de-crofted.
Neither project has yet decided on a brand name.
But Mr Morrison, 71, is confident “whisky from Mackay country” – “Uisge Beatha Duthaich Mhic’Aoidh” in Gaelic – will prove a strong foundation for global sales of a new dram.
The Broxburn Properties boss said: “We want it to be seen as part of the community, it’s a Durness scheme.
“There have been a lot of expressions of interest to invest. Craft distilleries are definitely on the up, we’re a member of the Scottish Craft Distillers Association and it’s on the ‘North Coast 500’ route.”
He estimates a six-year timescale for producing the first whisky.
“We invited the DDG to join us but they wanted a prime position and we said you can’t raise money through this sort of amorphous, bureaucratic organisation.
“It’s got to be done on strictly commercial principles. It’s hard enough to do it without another layer of bureaucracy and damned nonsense.
“There’s a wee bit of pique, hurt pride. Because we didn’t play with their ball, they have decided to do it themselves.”
DDG development officer, former stonemason Neil Fuller, 45, said: “We were working with David, but he didn’t agree with our ideas. There’s no bad blood.
“It’s a massively exciting project. It could change the game for an ageing and declining population.
“We want to copy the Harris (community) distillery but on a smaller scale.
“We’re developing a business plan. We’ve got an agreement in place in principle with the landowner. We’ve got an architect working on costings and design, and we’re working with HIE to develop the plans.”
The group hopes to have a distillery operational within three years.
Mr Fuller added: “Durness is a fantastic place to live and work but, unfortunately, we’re still outward migrating our young. In order to attract them back and attract new people in, we need good jobs with genuine futures.”
Durness councillor Hugh Morrison said: “Hopefully, both projects will succeed. There’s room for them both.
“Local tourism is generally April to October, although there are still visitors around. If they’re to be open all year round it would be another attraction.”