A bright future at Ardgowan Distillery

The designs for a £12million new facility for the Ardgowan Distillery have been revealed.

The new distillery is being built on the Ardgowan Estate near Inverkip, 30 miles west of Glasgow.

The plans showcase the flagship building which has just secured revised planning consent from Inverclyde Council.

The striking new design, by Michael Laird Architects, brings a number of improvements on the original proposal – which was granted full planning consent in March last year – and will sit alongside the distillery’s visitor centre which will be housed in existing buildings on the Bankfoot site.

An exterior shot of Ardgowan Whisky Distillery visualised on its planned site near the Ardgowan Estate.
(Image: Tom Barnett)

Ardgowan Distillery chief executive Martin McAdam said: ‘This is a state-of-the-art, modern distillery which not only looks fantastic, but will reduce our environmental impact wherever possible.

‘Our architects have worked closely with civil engineers Blyth & Blyth and process designers Briggs of Burton to create a striking distillery which fits well in the landscape and uses heat recovery and closed loop cooling to reduce energy use and water consumption, whilst the extensive use of glass means visitors will get a clear view of the bright airy interior.’

The first phase of the distillery incorporates two copper stills and six timber-clad washbacks, with a planned output of one million litres per annum. Future output can be doubled via the addition of two further stills plus washbacks in an already-approved second phase.

Martin says the stills will be supplied by a Scottish firm and that building contract discussions are underway. It is also understood that the company is in advanced discussions with a keystone investor.

Last month the distillery released its first whisky, a 600-bottle run of Ardgowan Expedition 20-year-old, a premium blend of malts containing whisky which has been to the South Pole – to positive industry reviews.

An interior shot of Ardgowan Whisky Distillery (Image: Tom Barnett)

Martin adds: ‘Ardgowan Expedition is a real collector’s item. It has been blended by our chairman Willie Phillips and comprises single barrels from upper Speyside and the northern Highlands, married together in sherry casks. It is something quite special.’

Ardgowan plans to follow this with a series of limited-edition malts – at around the £50 price mark – next year.

These will showcase premium single and blended malts in the seven to eight-year-old range and will offer lowland flavour profiles which will be ‘indicative’ of Ardgowan Distillery’s future output.

Expedition comes in a 70cl bottle in a wooden presentation case and is bottled at 46 percent. It is available direct from Ardgowan or via exclusive whisky retailer Robert Graham 1874.

The new distillery will resurrect the name of the Ardgowan Distillery, which was founded in 1896 and located in Baker Street, Greenock.

After a few years of whisky production, the distillery was used to make grain spirt and industrial alcohol until it was destroyed in the May Blitz of 1941.