New £25m landmark Scottish whisky distillery opens
Founded in 2017, the firm is led by Roland Grain, whisky entrepreneur, and Laura Davies, distillery manager, who together spearhead an expert team with a combined experience spanning over seven decades in the whisky industry.
Kate Forbes said it was a 'significant moment'. (Image: Getty Images) Featuring a sweeping Scandinavian longhouse design and 97 per cent recycled aluminium roof, the distillery has its sights set on producing top quality whisky and striving for carbon neutrality.
Ms Forbes said: 'This is a significant moment for the region's economy, with investment and job opportunities set to boost local communities.
'Scotland's whisky industry is a pivotal contributor to our positive global standing and provides great economic benefit, adding over £7 billion to the UK economy and generating £5.4bn in exports alone.
'I congratulate the team at Ardgowan for the dedication they have shown on this journey and I wish them every success as they enter the next phase of their operations.'
Following eight years of development, planning and construction, it is the first new distillery to open in Inverclyde for over a century. The firm said that, until now, the last distillery to operate in the region was destroyed in the Greenock Blitz.
The first casks are filled. (Image: Ardgowan Distillery) Mr Grain said: 'After a lengthy build, the team and I are thrilled to now be in full production and filling casks with our own distillate, including private casks for our Clan Ardgowan members. Ardgowan's ultimate goal is to revive the golden age of Scotch whisky with long Sherry cask maturation in European oak.
'Our commitment to quality is demonstrated by investing millions of pounds in our bespoke Infinity Casks years before the distillery was built. Producing whisky is all about time and patience, so, as we fill our first casks and the Deputy First Minister opens the site to the public, we look forward to steadily perfecting our Single Malt in the years to come.'
The Ardgowan Distillery's visitor centre is planned to open later this summer 'with various experiences on offer, catering for whisky novices and connoisseurs alike'.
8,000 new jobs to be created
Around 8,000 jobs could be created in an Aberdeenshire town over the next decade as £1 billion is set to be invested into energy transition projects.
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