Whisky Focus - Six New Clydebuilt Single Cask Whiskies Bottled By Ardgowan

Ardgowan Distillery Company has announced the release of six new single cask expressions under its boutique Clydebuilt range, further expanding the brand’s portfolio while its own single malt continues to mature.

The latest bottlings comprise five single malts and one single grain whisky, sourced from a selection of renowned distilleries: Aberlour Distillery, Aultmore Distillery, Benriach Distillery, Glen Garioch Distillery, Linkwood Distillery, and a single grain distilled at Cameronbridge Distillery. Each release has been selected from individual casks and bottled at natural cask strength, without chill filtration or added colouring.

Founded in 2017, Ardgowan reached a key milestone in 2025 with the completion of its distillery on the Firth of Clyde and the start of its own single malt production. In the meantime, Clydebuilt serves as a curated showcase of carefully matured Scotch whiskies, inspired by the craftsmanship and precision historically associated with the Clyde’s shipbuilding heritage.

The six new releases highlight a range of cask types and flavour profiles, including bourbon barrel and sherry hogshead maturations. Among them are an Aberlour 2013 bourbon barrel expression with notes of fudge and cream, an Aultmore 2015 sherry hogshead offering fruit scone sweetness, and a 20-year-old Cameronbridge single grain matured in bourbon wood, delivering richer dessert-like characteristics. Other releases from Benriach, Glen Garioch and Linkwood further demonstrate the diversity of Scotch whisky styles across regions and cask influences.

The six new Single Cask releases are:

• Clydebuilt 2013 Bourbon Barrel, Aberlour Distillery:
  
  A Speyside Single Malt matured in a single Bourbon barrel (#300080). Limited to 192 bottles, the nose brings hints of buttery fudge, while the palate offers whipped cream and boiled sweets. (RRP £120.00)
   
• Clydebuilt 2015 Sherry Hogshead, Aultmore Distillery:
  
  Yielding 305 bottles, cask number 303634 previously held Spanish Sherry before hosting spirit distilled at Speyside’s Aultmore Distillery. The result is a warming Single Malt with flavours of fruit scones topped with jam and cream. (RRP £65.00)
   
• Clydebuilt 2012 Bourbon Hogshead, Benriach Distillery:
  
  Previously used to mature Bourbon, cask number 750335 subsequently aged Speyside Single Malt from Benriach Distillery. The resulting 226 bottles boast moreish flavours buttercream icing, retro boiled sweets and fruit salad. (RRP £95.00)
   
• Clydebuilt 2005 Bourbon Hogshead, Cameronbridge Distillery:
  
  A vintage Single Grain expression matured for 20 long years in a Bourbon hogshead. The bronze liquid brims with buttered popcorn, heather honey and peach cobbler drizzled with cream. (RRP £79.00)
   
• Clydebuilt 2012 Bourbon Barrel, Glen Garioch Distillery:
  
  Distilled in the Highlands, cask number 4587 was matured on site at Ardgowan Distillery. The cask’s Bourbon history has imparted notes of marzipan, vanilla fudge and hazelnut praline on the resulting 237 bottles produced. (RRP £85.00)
   
• Clydebuilt 2015 Sherry Hogshead, Linkwood Distillery:
  
  A Speyside Single Malt matured in a single Spanish Sherry cask (#312013). Limited to 332 bottles, the nose reveals grassy aromas, while the palate offers creamy toffee and gooseberry jam qualities. (RRP £59.00)

Oversight of the range sits with Laura Davies, Ardgowan's distillery manager and whisky maker, who personally selected each cask from the company's growing inventory. The company has continued to invest in that inventory despite wider industry pressures, committing £5 million to mature stocks in 2025, with a further £4 million planned.

"Working with spirit from different distilleries is a great reminder of how diverse Scotch whisky can be. There’s a joy in discovering a whisky where the distillery character shines through. Every cask behaves differently, but these six stood out for their balance between distillery DNA and cask influence. They're honest whiskies, bottled as if you were sampling straight from the cask: at their natural strength and colour, and without undergoing chill filtration."

Following expanded distribution partnerships across Europe, North America and Asia announced last year, the new Clydebuilt Single Cask releases are now being rolled out through specialist retailers worldwide.

You will soon find the six new Clydebuilt single cask expressions available from specialist online whisky shops such as The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt
 

• UK Shops
   
• USA Shops
   
• European Shops

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