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Ardgowan
Distillery, the inaugural zero-carbon
whisky distillery in Inverclyde, has
initiated the construction of its £20
million visionary 'cathedral of whisky'.
Ardgowan
Distillery, the inaugural zero-carbon
whisky distillery in Inverclyde, has
initiated the construction of its £20
million visionary "cathedral of whisky".
Muir Construction, based in Inverkeithing, is set to complete the
first phase over the next 12 months.
This initial stage encompasses crucial
components like core groundworks,
steelwork, and distillation equipment,
positioning Ardgowan to commence spirit
production by 2024.
This milestone follows almost seven
years of meticulous planning by the
distillery founders, signifying a
significant achievement in the
development of an ergonomic,
energy-efficient distillery and visitor
experience. The project is expected to
generate 47 local jobs and yield up to 1
million litres of premium single malt
whisky annually.
The groundbreaking distillery design
integrates low environmental impact
materials, including composite cladding,
timber, and steel, to craft a
contemporary Nordic long hall. This
design symbolises resurrection and
emergence from the remnants of the
former Ardgowan Distillery in Greenock,
devastated during the 1941 Blitz.
Ardgowan's
ambitious vision for the net-zero
distillery involves incorporating
cutting-edge technologies and forming
partnerships with emerging technology
developers to achieve a genuinely
carbon-neutral spirit. Collaborating
with Heriot-Watt University and
engineers Briggs of Burton, the
distillery aims to capture all CO2
generated in the fermentation process
and convert it into green biomethane—a
pioneering technique yet to be employed
in a Scotch whisky distillery.
Martin McAdam, CEO, said: "It’s been
almost seven years in the planning,
spanning Brexit, a global pandemic, and
five Prime Ministers. But now, finally,
we have started construction.
"Muir have been integral in constructing
some of the finest Scotch Whisky
distilleries open today and are at the
forefront of several pioneering Scottish
sustainability projects. We welcome
their expertise as we embark on the
first major phase of our state of the
art distillery."
Muir Construction, a division of Muir
Group, specialises in distillery
construction, boasting prior
collaborations with major distillery
firms such as William Grant & Sons,
Distell, and Glenmorangie. Their
portfolio extends to significant
sustainability initiatives, including
contributions to projects like the
Queens Quay Energy Centre in Glasgow and
Celtic Renewables.
The new Ardgown Distillery construction
project has secured a comprehensive
funding package totalling £24 million
thus far, with the distillery recently
augmenting its financial support by
raising over £3.6 million through a
convertible loan note to shareholders.
Ardgowan's current acclaimed assortment
of sherry cask-influenced malts have
achieved noteworthy success with a
triple gold triumph at the 2022 Scotch
Whisky Awards. The Clydebuilt whisky
range, recognised for its excellence, is
currently accessible through specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
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