A number of pre-existing farm structures have been reconstructed using CUPA PIZARRAS Heavy 3 slate in order to house a new Scottish whisky distillery, Ardross. Existing stone and slate from the location’s original farm buildings were salvaged to rebuild the walls and roof of the development. However, Heavy 3 was selected to maintain a uniform aesthetic where the original slate could not be reused.

CUPA PIZARRAS Heavy 3 slate was specified for use on the project in conjunction with the architect’s design, as it was an ideal match to the Ballachulish slate used on the original buildings. This older slate had already been reclaimed for a proportion of the roof; however, additional slates were required to complete the refurbishment.

Not only is Heavy 3 visibly similar to traditional Scottish Ballachulish, it is the perfect strength to withstand extreme Scottish weather. Aesthetically, it is a blue black in colour with a slight gritty texture and it also features well-defined parallel lines that are visible on the cleavage surfaces. The product is from San Pedro quarry in Spain, where two thicknesses are produced, 3.5m to 7-8m; it is this thick variant that works well against the high wind speeds and driving rains of Scotland.

As the Ardross whisky distillery is a large site, it took contractor Ian Sharpe of Wyvis Roofing, 14 months to complete the full refurbishment. During that time, Ian worked closely alongside the consultant engineers and architects to fulfil the design requirements and bring the vision of the project to life.

“We always recommend CUPA PIZARRAS Heavy 3 slate because it not only comes from a good geographical area, but it can withstand the tough weather conditions - which is really needed in Scotland,” commented Ian. “I’ve worked with Heavy 3 slate before and it’s easy to handle and install. CUPA PIZARRAS are also always on hand to ensure that the installation runs smoothly.”

For more information on Heavy 3, please click here.