THE first new distillery to open in Inverclyde for more than a century has filled its first oak cask as it opens its doors for business.
Following eight years of development, planning, and construction, Ardgowan Distillery was officially opened in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes on Friday.
The distillery was designed with a Scandinavian longhouse aesthetic in mind, and along with it being visually striking, it also champions sustainability with its 97% recycled aluminium roof and composite cladding.
The distillery has its sights set on not only producing top-quality whisky but also simultaneously striving for carbon neutrality.
Forbes congratulated the Ardgowan team during her visit to the distillery as she said they have shown dedication to make the project a reality over the last eight years.
She said: “This is a significant moment for the region’s economy, with investment and job opportunities set to boost local communities.
“Scotland’s whisky industry is a pivotal contributor to our positive global standing and provides great economic benefit, adding over £7 billion to the UK economy and generating £5.4bn in exports alone.
“I congratulate the team at Ardgowan for the dedication they have shown on this journey and I wish them every success as they enter the next phase of their operations.”
The last distillery to operate in Inverclyde was destroyed in the Greenock Blitz on May 7 1941.
The Ardgowan Distillery’s visitor centre is also planned to open later this summer with various experiences on offer.
The site will be open to the public between 3pm and 7pm on Friday with live music, local food vendors, a children’s activity area, and exclusive whiskies on offer to celebrate the grand opening.
Founded in 2017, the west coast firm is led by whisky entrepreneur Roland Grain and distillery manager Laura Davies, who are leading an expert team with a combined experience spanning over seven decades in the whisky industry.
Grain said: “After a lengthy build, the team and I are thrilled to now be in full production and filling casks with our own distillate, including private casks for our Clan Ardgowan members.
“Ardgowan’s ultimate goal is to revive the golden age of Scotch whisky with long Sherry cask maturation in European oak.
“Our commitment to quality is demonstrated by investing millions of pounds in our bespoke Infinity Casks years before the distillery was built.
“Producing whisky is all about time and patience, so, as we fill our first casks and the Deputy First Minister opens the site to the public, we look forward to steadily perfecting our Single Malt in the years to come.”
