Ardgowan Distillery

Ardgowan Distillery: standing on the shoulders of giants

When I started writing this entry to Tom’s Dram Diary, the whisky world was buzzing with all kinds of news items about the short-term future. That Glenglassaugh Distillery is cutting down production time is not totally unique; many distilleries are taking a step back. Let us just hope it will not turn into mothballing or even worse … closure until further notice. These developments are maybe not only because of declining export numbers, but also because the warehouses are filled to the brim. When the interest in whisky takes a nosedive, there is also no reason to empty those warehouses. Good news for whisky enthusiasts who are alive in a few decades, when mature single malt is released from the whisky lake that was created in the recent 15 to 20 years. 

Building a brand new distillery seems risky business in such a climate, but exactly that is what I have witnessed near the little town of Inverkip, close to Greenock. In January 2025, we were kindly received by several people involved in the establishment of the brand new Ardgowan Distillery. Over here, there is little worry about the future. Walking through the yet to be finished production location, where two stills are waiting to be connected to the whole system, we see that space is already reserved for expansion. If anybody at Ardgowan is worried about firing up the stills, they kept it well hidden for a blogging visitor.

Leaders and ambassadors

We met up with Laura Davies of Wales, former manager of Penderyn Distillery but now starting a new challenge as Distillery Manager at Ardgowan.  She comes with skills, sharpened no doubt as apprentice of the late Dr Jim Swan. Joining us for a walk around the site was Master Distiller Ian Macmillan, who formerly worked at Bunnahabhain and Deanston. We were introduced by an acquaintance to us all, Max McFarlane. If you do not know who that is, but happen to be in the possession of older Highland Park bottles (pre Viking overhaul), you can spot his name on bottles like the 12, 18 and 21 years old. He made HP a name to be reckoned with, but left his employer Edrington through the front door a few years ago. Times they were a-changing and Max decided to not wait around. Now he is very much the ambassador to the new Ardgowan, while Edrington tries to bring out recognisable brands while struggling with maintaining integrity (my opinion, I add). 

We were received at Max’s place with the greatest hospitality. Listening to stories of past, present and future, he kindly shared a few drams with us from the Clydebuilt collection. This line honours the old days of shipbuilding, and contains some tremendous quality. We sipped from a rich and satisfying single grain (called “Riveter”) and a rather impressive blended malt, from sherry casks from six different distilleries mixed together (called “Sailmaker”). That was just Max proving his nose is as sharp at detecting excellent whisky as ever.  

You cannot imagine that Edrington let so much knowledge walk out the door, but appointed as Master of Wood is Stuart McPherson who brings along 43 years of experience in cask selection. If you used to drink The Macallan whisky from sherry wood in bygone days, chances are you were enjoying the influence of Stuart. Ardgowan can stands on the shoulders of giants. 

Boots on

Under the guidance of Laura, Ian and Max and the foreman of construction, we wandered past the buildings still being heavily a “work in progress”. It is hard to believe that spirit will be running from the stills in just a few months, but Laura assures me that they are on schedule. In any case, it was a first time for me that I was asked to put on safety boots and a helmet before going to see a distillery. The site is nothing short of impressive though, despite the muddy grounds of an early January Inverkip morning. Numerous tubes and pipes form a bridge between the boiler room and the production part of the distillery, containing the mash tun, two stills and stainless steel washbacks. Sustainability will be engrained in the DNA of the operation. Ardgowan is on route to open the first malt distillery in the area for 100 years, and it will be a sight to see. Driving past the distillery on the A78 you cannot miss the work going on. Imagine, in a few months, when a big “A” will catch your eye, the planned hospitality open for business, what you will do. You will pull over and visit. Hopefully in your own shoes.