The drinks giant Diageo has announced it is to invest £1bn in Scotch whisky production over the next five years.
The company said it would build a new distillery in the Speyside area and would draw up plans for a second if the global appetite for Scotch continues.
New warehouses to store the Scotch will also be built.
Further details of the investment will be released over the coming months – but the various schemes are expected to create 100 new full-time jobs.
In addition 250 jobs will be created each year in construction over the five year period and the investment is expected to generate an additional 500 jobs in the wider economy.
