Luss Distillery celebrates first year in business with over 55,000 visitors welcomed

The new spirits destination has become one of Scotland’s most highly regarded visitor attractions just a year after opening.

Luss Distillery, the multi-million-pound distillery and visitor destination on the banks of Loch Lomond, has welcomed more than 55,000 visitors and hosted nearly 5,000 tastings and tours in its first year of operation.

Launched by independent distiller Loch Lomond Group, the distillery quietly opened in the village of Luss in October 2025, before being officially launched by First Minister John Swinney at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in January 2026.

Since its opening, the distillery has  welcomed guests from across the world, including passionate whisky connoisseurs as well as curious spirits newcomers. Among its visitors have been guests from United States, who made up 8% of all visits, as well as guests from Germany, Netherlands and France.

Luss Distillery is a dedicated brand home for Loch Lomond Group’s multi-award award-winning Loch Lomond Whiskies.  Within the dedicated retail space, guests have also been able to explore the group’s extensive portfolio of other whiskies, including Glen Scotia and Littlemill.

The distillery hosts a range of dedicated whisky tastings and tours, as well as freely opening its doors for a more informal exploration of its beautifully designed spaces. During its first year, the attraction has achieved exceptional feedback from guests, earning a five-star Tripadvisor rating, and a 4.9 rating on Google Reviews, with a Net Promoter Score of 94. It was also awarded a five-star quality grading by the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA), just months after opening its doors.

To mark its first year in business, Luss Distillery will be running a host of initiatives from 9 to 16 October, from free bottle engraving to a Serve & Slice offer at the onsite Scoff & Patter, where visitors will be treated a slice of birthday cake and a Ben Lomond cocktail.

25% off all whisky experiences as well as 10% off all merchandise in the shop, will also be available across the week. The distillery will also host an Open House for local residents in Luss, and partners who have supported its journey over the past year.

Tony MacLean, Brand Home Manager at Luss Distillery, said: “It has been a whirlwind first year, and as I look back on the past 12 months, I am so proud of what we have built here.

“Luss Distillery is unlike anything else in Scotland. It is a place where the stories of whisky are brought together under one roof, making it incredibly unique and appealing to visitors with very different interests. Our spectacular location on the banks of Loch Lomond undoubtedly plays a huge part in attracting visitors.

“From the moment visitors arrive, there is a real sense of discovery, both for the local area and for our offering.  Guests consistently talk about is the opportunity to get behind the scenes, hear the stories behind our brands and taste premium whisky  in such a spectacular setting. They also really value access to products they cannot buy elsewhere. Our Luss Exclusive Casks have been particularly successful, and we are continuing to develop more products that are only available at Luss.

“After such a strong first year, it is exciting to see how the destination is establishing itself as a place where people can discover our spirits, enjoy the landscape and create a memorable Loch Lomond experience.”

Luss Distillery is open daily from 10am-5pm.

For more information about Luss Distillery, please visit https://lussdistillery.com/

For more information about The Loch Lomond Group, please visit www.lochlomondgroup.com.

About the Loch Lomond Group

• Loch Lomond Group is an independent distiller based in Alexandria and is home to several multi- award-winning brands that are sold in more than 125 countries worldwide.
• Loch Lomond distillery has been producing the finest single malt whiskies since 1814.
• Images and interviews with key staff from the Group are available upon request. lochlomondgroup.com

Tickets Now On Sale

Whisky Social returns on Saturday November 21 from 1:00 to 4:00pm, and tickets are now on sale: TICKETS

Why a sibling for Spirit of Toronto?

Because we longed for the kind of laidback, FOMO-free European whisky festivals we’ve attended across the pond.

And then we came across the perfect warehouse location for an afternoon of ‘whisky and vibes’, with a food truck on-site to keep our bellies full while the drams flowed.

We like to think of Whisky Social as the ‘smash burger’ to Spirit of Toronto’s filet mignon: both are equally satisfying in their own right.

And, because we couldn’t pass up the chance for a geeky deep dive with fellow whisky fans… we’re digging into the vaults and opening some pretty amazing bottles to share with likeminded folks for an hour before the main doors open. (Just saying, you do you.)

Hope to see you there!
Johanna

Johanna Ngoh
Founder, Whisky Social and Spirit of Toronto

GET MORE OF THE GOOD STUFF

Whisky Wallet is our new members-only whisky fund that rewards you with a 10% boost. It’s the good stuff with a little extra on top.

Here’s how it works: 

1. Deposit monthly 

Choose £25, £50, £75 or £100.

2. Get 10% extra from us 

We boost every payment you make.

£25 → £27.50 credit

£50 → £55 credit

£75 → £82.50 credit

£100 → £110 credit

3. Enjoy more good stuff 

Spend your credit online whenever you’re ready.

Your balance will grow until you’re ready to spend it on the whiskies you’ve been waiting for – whether you’re planning for monthly Outturn releases, saving for a special occasion, or simply wanting a smarter way to pay for Society whisky.

You can check your Whisky Wallet balance anytime in your member dashboard and will see the option to use it at checkout.

READ MORE

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Whisky Show bottlings 2026

Every year, we work with some of the finest distilleries and bottlers in the world to select a choice few whiskies from their stocks and The Whisky Show 2026 is no different. Six different single-cask expressions from Scotland, England and the USA, each exclusively bottled for launch at the show and every one a star turn.

​SHOP NOW

The Good Dram Show – Episode 650 ‘English Whisky’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at a selection of new releases from The Spirit of Yorkshire, White Peak and the West Midlands Distillery. Episode 650 – Oooh…! You Can’t Do That…! Filmed in The Study Nottingham. 

Featuring

Filey Bay Heritage 46.5%
Filey Bay 10th Anniversary Special Release 49.9%
spiritofyorkshire.com

White Peaks Wireworks Caduro Cask Strength 58%
White Peaks Wireworks Calvados Arrivée 49.2%
www.whitepeakdistillery.co.uk

West Midlands Distillery ‘Siblings’ Unpeated 51.1%
West Midlands Distillery ‘Siblings’ Peated 52.1%
www.westmidlandsdistillery.co.uk

Filmed & Edited by Chris Goodrum.Disclaimer The views, thoughts, or opinions expressed during this episode are solely those of the individual involved (me) and do not represent those of my employer.  

SAZERAC COMPANY CONTINUES INVESTING IN KENTUCKY WITH ACQUISITION OF GARRARD COUNTY DISTILLING

The acquisition builds on Sazerac’s recent investments in Kentucky and expands the company’s distilling footprint across the Commonwealth

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sazerac announced today that it has acquired Garrard County Distilling facility in Lancaster, Kentucky, marking the latest step in the company’s continued growth and long-term investment across the Commonwealth. The facility joins Sazerac’s broader distilling network in the state, including Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown and The Glenmore Distillery in Owensboro. The acquisition represents an important addition to Sazerac’s production capabilities, providing additional capacity to support continued growth across the company’s portfolio of spirits brands.

The Garrard County Distilling facility, which opened in 2024, sits on approximately 210 acres and includes two column stills and two 20,000-square-foot barrel warehouses. Sazerac will utilize the facility’s existing infrastructure and capabilities to support the company’s broader production needs. The company expects to hire additional team members initially and will grow over time as operations at the facility develop.

“Kentucky has been an important part of Sazerac’s story for many years, and we’re proud to continue investing and growing here,” said Jake Wenz, President and CEO of Sazerac. “Today, nearly 3,000 team members are part of Sazerac’s Kentucky operations, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to continue growing that team. Even with all the investments we have made to expand, we need more supply to keep up with demand, and the addition of the Lancaster facility gives us valuable distilling capabilities to support that growth. We’re excited to become part of the Garrard County community.”

Sazerac continues to make significant long-term investments in its Kentucky distilleries, strengthening production capabilities, modernizing facilities, and supporting the future of bourbon production in the Commonwealth.

In the past five years, the company has invested approximately $50 million at Barton 1792 Distillery, including a new boiler house, additional fermenters, expanded bottling operations and three new aging warehouses that increased barrel storage capacity by 25%, along with upgrades to existing equipment and facilities.

In January 2025, Sazerac completed a ten-year, $1.2 billion expansion project for Buffalo Trace Distillery, which included a new still house, boiler house, bottling operation, expanded visitor center, 20 additional fermenters, and 19 new aging warehouses.

At The Glenmore Distillery, Sazerac has invested approximately $40 million to enhance processing capabilities and upgrade barrel equipment, distillery controls and bottling lines since 2020. Sazerac is also investing in additional barrel aging capacity throughout Kentucky, including construction of new warehouses in Laurel and Taylor Counties.

“We’re pleased to welcome Sazerac to Garrard County and look forward to what this investment will mean for our community,” said Garrard County Judge Executive Chris Elleman. “Sazerac’s decision to invest here brings new jobs and economic opportunity to our county while positioning this Distillery for continued growth. We’re proud to have Sazerac become part of the Garrard County community and look forward to working together for years to come.”

Kentucky House Speaker Pro Tempore David Meade adds, “Sazerac’s investment in Garrard County is another strong example of the continued confidence companies are placing in Kentucky and our signature bourbon industry. This acquisition brings new opportunity to an impressive facility that already represents a significant investment in our region. Seeing Sazerac put this facility back to work is a positive development for Garrard County and another opportunity to strengthen one of our Commonwealth’s signature industries.”

For more information on Sazerac’s distilleries, please visit www.sazerac.com/our-distilleries.

About Sazerac

With over 400 years of history, Sazerac is one of the world’s largest distilled spirits companies. Now in the fourth generation of the current family ownership, Sazerac strives each day to bring the finest spirits to consumers and communities around the world.

Over 550 of the world’s most extraordinary brands are part of the Sazerac portfolio, including Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare, Weller, The Last Drop Distillers, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Southern Comfort, Wheatley Vodka, Myers’s Rum, White X Cognac, Sazerac de Forge Cognac, Paddy’s Irish Whiskey, and many more.

Sazerac is also the steward of many fine distilleries internationally, including Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, United States; Domaine Sazerac de Segonzac in Cognac, France; Paul John Distillery in Goa, India; and Hawk’s Rock Distillery in County Sligo, Ireland. Additional impressive locations can be found in New Orleans, Montréal, London, Cork and Sydney, to name a few.

To learn more visit www.sazerac.com.

This year, The Glendronach celebrates two centuries of whisky-making heritage at one of Scotland’s most renowned Highland distilleries. To mark this momentous occasion, The Glendronach has released a limited edition whisky.

THE GLENDRONACH

Boynsmill House Limited Edition

14 Year Old · 70cl · 46.8% ABV

To celebrate its 200th anniversary, The Glendronach released this wonderful limited edition 14 year old single malt. Inspired by Boynsmill House, the historic home associated with distillery founder James Allardice, the whisky was matured in a combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, complemented Claret red wine casks. Rich and indulgent, it is a fitting tribute to two centuries of Glendronach craftsmanship and heritage.

£94.95

Nose Rich and inviting, with Highland toffee, juicy bramble fruits, ripe plum and stone fruit, followed by raisins and toasted hazelnuts.
Palate Full-bodied and velvety with plush malt, layers of dried fruit and nuts, developing into creamy chocolate, caramel and gentle spice.
Finish Long, smooth and warming, with lingering cocoa, dark fruits, soft oak spice and a subtle tannic dryness from the Claret casks.

(glen-DRON-akh) Founded in 1826 in the east Highlands of Scotland, The GlenDronach is one of the country’s oldest licensed distilleries. Tucked into the Forgue valley near Huntly, it has built its name on a deep commitment to traditional production and long sherry cask maturation.

SCOTCH WHISKY AUCTIONS

COLLECTIONS

October Collection Schedule

Free UK collection service for customers selling with SWA. Our September collection schedule has now been finalised. If you’re looking to sell whisky with Scotch Whisky Auctions, register your collection request below.

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12 noon, Monday 12th October 2026

Home Collections

Available for customers sending:

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£1,000+

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Lots can be split across the next three auctions.

THIS MONTH

Add any special route, regional collection or one-off location information here. Remove this section if there is nothing special to announce this month.

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Collections are limited and offered on a first come, first served basis. Home collection is not available in London. We do, however, have four collection points in London. It is essential that a submission sheet is completed. You can find this under the Selling section on your My SWA page. Please pack bottles securely for uplift and clearly mark your name on the front of the box.

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Glenallachie Sinteis Series 4 – Mongolian Virgin Oak Finish, 58.5%

THE VIDEO

(Sine-teesh) – Synthesis.

Matured separately in ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez casks before then being transferred into fresh Mongolian oak. Mongolian oak itself (Quercus Mongolica) is the same genus as Mizunara. It’s a type of oak that grows throughout all of Asia, providing a rather similar flavour profile without the drawbacks of Mizunara wood.

Mongolian oak is more watertight, less expensive and liquids don’t need to spend as long inside it to take on those mush sought-after flavour profiles. Loaded with classic Glenallachie notes of pastry, butter, candied fruits and ginger – the Mongolian oak influences have provided hazelnuts, fruit syrups, roasted fig, sandalwood, incense and manuka honey.

It may only be ten years old, but as a release and a flavour, it drinks and feels much more mature. The Sinteis releases have been a massively interesting selection of cask influences from Glenallachie, my mind us racing to think what they’ll release next year.

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