Opening date confirmed for Scottish ‘cathedral to whisky' distillery
A Scottish distillery that's been billed as a 'cathedral to whisky' is set to open its doors to the public for the first time in June.
Ardgowan distillery in Inverkip is set to open on Friday 20 June, with a celebration of the years of work that have gone into this eye-catching new build.
Visitors will be invited to explore the brand new distillery, meet the people behind the whisky, and enjoy a day filled with live music, street food, and exceptional drams.
One of the standout moments of the day will be the unveiling of the Ardgowan Infinity Cask, a unique and bespoke vessel crafted for ultra long ageing. Designed to mature whisky over decades, it reflects our bold and thoughtful approach to flavour, time, and legacy.
The event will also see the debut of a brand new range of Clydebuilt bottlings, with limited numbers available for the first time at the official opening. At the centre of the collection is the exclusive opening day release - a whisky that marks the start of a new chapter for Ardgowan.
The design for the Ardgowan distillery uses low environmental impact composite cladding, timber and steel materials to create a light-filled modern Nordic long hall, which is why the distillery is known as a "cathedral to whisky.'
Ardgowan in late 2024 Picture: John Devlin
In November 2024 the distillery marked a milestone moment with the arrival of the stills, which were made by McMillan Coppersmiths in Prestonpans, were piped into the site during an event attended by locals, press and the provost.
As well as the opening date announcement, Ardgowan Distillery has a new Chief Executive Officer, Roland Grain.
A seasoned entrepreneur and passionate whisky enthusiast, Mr Grain has been a key figure in the distillery's development from the outset.
The management transition has always been a planned succession as the distillery moves from construction and into production. This next phase will focus firmly on sustainability, innovation, and the creation of Ardgowan as world class whisky.
Mr Grain said: 'This is an incredibly proud moment for everyone involved with Ardgowan Distillery.
'I'm honoured to lead the team as we build on Scotland's whisky legacy. We can't wait to welcome visitors to experience our craft first-hand when we officially open this June.'
Martin McAdam, outgoing CEO and founder, added: 'Getting the project to this point has been an odyssey. We have a fantastic team in place.
"I'd like to thank all the shareholders who have supported us through this remarkable journey. I wish Roland Grain every success in his new role as CEO. This is just the beginning of something truly special at Ardgowan as we commence production of our own Single Malt.'
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