ARDGOWAN DISTILLERY UNVEILS FINAL WHISKIES IN

AWARD-WINNING CLYDEBUILT SERIES

Ardgowan Distillery has announced the two final additions to its celebrated Clydebuilt whisky series: Anchorsmith and Draughtsman Blended Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The penultimate release in the Clydebuilt series, Anchorsmith combines six distinct whiskies from renowned Lowland, Speyside, and Highland distilleries, each matured in first fill oloroso sherry casks and handpicked by Master Whisky Maker Max McFarlane.

Marking the final chapter of the series, Draughtsman offers a grand finale to savour. This unique blend marries a small parcel of Ardgowan’s oldest hand selected casks – including a 25 year old malt –  with a selection of distinctive eight year old malts matured in first fill oloroso sherry casks.

Max McFarlane, Master Whisky Maker at Ardgowan Distillery,  said:

“Crafted with precision and passion, these limited edition blends pay homage to the rich maritime heritage of the Clyde shipyards, embodying the same dedication to quality and craftsmanship that made ‘Clydebuilt’ synonymous with excellence.

“Anchorsmith is a truly exceptional blend, offering a unique sensory experience with its well-balanced nose of black cherries, lemon drizzle cake and chocolate raisins.  On the palate, expect a full-bodied symphony of ripe dark fruits, roast chestnuts, and pomegranate juice, leading to a long, lightly tannic finish with hints of earl grey tea and orange marmalade.

“Draughtsman consists of malt whiskies sourced from eight distilleries across Scotland, marrying a 25-year-old malt whisky with a handpicked selection of first fill oloroso matured malts, resulting in our most intense and complex whisky to date. Dive into a nose of Ceylon tea, manuka honey, and dark chocolate, leading to a palate bursting with flavours of juicy blackcurrant jam, all spice, and dark red fruits. The finish is a crescendo, starting slow and building to an explosive finale.”

The two new additions join Ardgowan’s decorated collection of Clydebuilt whiskies, which have won a variety of accolades including a recent Master Medal at the 2023 Spirits Business Global Scotch Whisky Masters and golds at the World Whiskies Awards.

Both Clydebuilt Anchorsmith and Draughtsman are bottled at 46% ABV, with a recommended retail price of £52.99 and will be available for purchase from April 22nd through Ardgowan Distillery’s network of specialist on-trade retailers.

After almost 7 years’ careful planning, Ardgowan Distillery Limited’s ergonomic, energy efficient distillery and visitor experience, which will create up to 47 local jobs and produce up to 1m litres of premium whisky per year, is due to open later this year.

The ambitious plans for the new net-zero distillery include cutting-edge technologies and partnerships with new technology developers to deliver a truly carbon-neutral spirit. The distillery has partnered with Heriot-Watt University and engineers Briggs of Burton to develop technology to capture all of the CO2 in its fermentation process and transform it into green biomethane – a technique which has never been used in a Scotch whisky distillery before.

The innovative distillery design uses low environmental impact composite cladding, timber and steel materials to create a modern Nordic long hall, symbolising resurrection and rising from the ashes of the former Ardgowan Distillery in Greenock, which was bombed during the 1941 Blitz.

For more information, please visit www.ardgowandistillery.com

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Clydebuilt Draughtsman Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

NOSE

Well balanced and distinctive, with notes of black cherries, lemon drizzle cake chocolate raisins,

sesame oil and sticky figs and dates.

PALATE

Full bodied, floral, and plummy – awash with ripe dark fruits, roast chestnuts, pomegranate juice and

overripe bananas.

FINISH

Long and lightly tannic with earl grey tea and orange marmalade.

46% ABV

RRP £52.99

Available from 22 nd April from Ardgowan Distillery’s network of specialist on-trade retailers

Clydebuilt Anchorsmith Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

NOSE

Complex: Ceylon tea, manuka honey, sweet currant scones and marzipan meet candied lemon peel,

dark chocolate, and leatherbound books.

PALATE

Packed with mouth-watering notes: toast with juicy blackcurrant jam, subtle allspice, dark red fruits,

and herbal hints.

FINISH

A one hundred metre dash – a slow start building to super charged, explosive finish.

46% ABV

RRP £52.99

Available from 22 nd April from Ardgowan Distillery’s network of specialist on-trade retailers

About Ardgowan Distillery Company Limited

Ardgowan Distillery Company Limited has full planning permission for the construction of an eco-friendly single malt whisky distillery, gin distillery and visitor centre on the historic Ardgowan Estate near Inverkip, 30 miles west of Glasgow.

Ardgowan Distillery Limited has invested in world-class technologies to put sustainability at the heart of its plans, aiming to become carbon negative. The distillery will begin production in 2024 with capacity to produce up to 1 million litres of premium whisky per year, and the combined facilities will create up to 47 new local jobs.

Visit:                     www.ardgowandistillery.com

Instagram:        @ardgowandistillery

Twitter:              @ardgowanwhisky

Facebook:          @ardgowandistillery

For additional information or to arrange media interviews please contact:

April 2024 // 26.04 – 06.05.2024

ENDS TONIGHT!

Our April auction ends this evening, featuring thousands of rare whiskies and fine spirits, this is a unique opportunity to bid on some of the world’s most sought-after bottles. We have legendary vintages from pioneering independent bottlers, grandeur aplenty from established distilleries and unique and experimental drams from the hottest names in the whisky industry right now.

Yamazaki 55 Year Old 2021

Ben Nevis 1926 Single Cask 63 Year Old #322 / One of 96

Colonel E.H. Taylor Warehouse C Tornado Surviving

Early Aberlour Bottlings

Whisky Fair

GLEN GRANT DISTILLERY

65 Year Old 1958 Mr. George Legacy #4

Cask #3818

TWB Tasting Notes:

Nose: The initial aroma is rich with a pronounced sweetness, reminiscent of aged sherry and vintage leather. There are also vibrant hints of dried fruits, notably apricots and dates, intertwined with subtle notes of almond and walnut. A whisper of floral undertones adds a delicate complexity, with a backdrop of old library books suggesting its extensive aging.

Palate: On the palate, this whisky reveals a silky, almost velvety texture that envelops the mouth. The taste starts with a gentle sweetness, displaying flavors of ripe plums and red apples. This evolves into a richer, more concentrated profile with layers of dark chocolate, cinnamon, and a touch of peppery spice. The oak influence is evident but beautifully integrated, providing a sophisticated woody resonance without overpowering the delicate fruitiness.

Finish: The finish is long and warming, with a continuing spice that slowly fades to leave echoes of vanilla, toffee, and a hint of smoke. As the flavors linger, there is a satisfying dryness that comes from the oak, ending with a clean and refined conclusion.

Gordon & MacPhail Tasting Notes:

Nose: Rich beeswax aromas lead to underlying molasses, stewed prunes nad warm spices. Subtle aged leather develops alongside mature oak and a hint of cocoa powder.

Taste: Smooth and full bodied. Seville orange peel and morello cherry flavours give way to dried tobacco and roasted coffee bean. Toasted oak notes come to the fore with a touch of liquorice.

Finish: Long and balanced with a faint hint of smoke.

Low wines are essentially an intermediate product in the distillation process, emerging after the first distillation run. Vic Cameron, one of our whisky lecturers says: “Low wines is distillate collected from a wash still. So, we charge up a wash still with wash. We run the still and collect all the distillate as low wines. This run takes the liquid from about 8% or 9% alcohol up to about 22% or 25% alcohol.”

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Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 528: Benrinnes 13 Year Old 2010 Asta Morris

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, goes to a barbecue… Every Whiskyfestival tries to stand out by also releasing a festival bottling. And on the 8^th of June 2024 the third edition of a wonderful festival in Mark’s neck of the woods takes place: When Whisky Meats BBQ – no, that’s not a typo… For this edition, they teamed up with Belgian bottler Asta Morris and selected this Benrinnes 13 years old 2010 that started life on a bourbon barrel, but then got a sherry finish.

https://youtu.be/77NzbXYDxZQ

Our whisky is made with little automation, and we prefer to rely on the ‘human touch’ throughout our spirit-making. This emphasis on people throughout the production process also serves to create employment that would otherwise be lost in a more ‘push-button’ operation.

Our commitment to developing career opportunities for young islanders now manifests in our Spirit Hall through one of the youngest distilling teams in Scotland.

With an average age of just 26 years, Rebekah, Thomas, Paddy, and Domhnall are now fully trained and qualified in the art and science of distilling spirits.

Under the mentorship of our Head Distiller Norman Ian, they use their judgement and experience to decide cut-points by nose and sight, manually adjusting the steam valves and making considered decisions as a team at every step.

The difference this makes to the final results may be hard to define but we believe their growing skills at the stills bring something extra to the spirits we finally bottle.

Read on to learn more about these young people who produce our whisky and gin, and if you’d like to enjoy the fruits of their labour then please consider buying a bottle or two from our online shop.

Le gach deagh dhùrachd,

Mike Donald, Chief Storyteller

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MEET REBEKAH MORRISON
22 YEARS OF AGE

Hailing from Bowglass here in the Isle of Harris, Rebekah went through her school years just a short walk from the Isle of Harris Distillery’s doors.

Rebekah began her career working in our distillery cafe at the age of 17. Soon after, a distilling apprenticeship became available and it proved a chance to embrace a whole new challenge.

After undertaking 2 years of training, Rebekah qualified with flying colours and now makes the historic single malt whisky, The Hearach.

Working close to home is something held close to Rebekah’s heart as she says, “The most important thing is the ability to live and work where I grew up…”

Rebekah was also our first woman distiller, something we are proud of, and we hope her success here inspires others to take on other such traditional male-dominated roles.

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MEET THOMAS MACRAE
26 YEARS OF AGE

Originally hailing from the village of Balallan, Thomas now lives close to the distillery here in our home village of Tarbert.

Thomas always had the distillery project on his radar and took a keen interest in our progress from afar.

But, when a distilling job opportunity arose, Thomas took advantage of the on-the-job training that would be provided and decided to “give it a shot”, in his own words.

Having come from a background of fishing, the life of a distiller inevitably came with steep new learning curves but he’s risen to the occasion every time.

Thomas tells, ‘Every day is different as a distiller. It keeps me on my toes but as a strong team here at the Isle of Harris Distillery, we are all working together towards the same goal”.

Learning he’s both proud and privileged to have secured the role of a distiller with us, we’re delighted he can further his skills and learnings whilst staying close to his island friends and family.

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PADDY SINCLAIR
29 YEARS OF AGE

Paddy was brought up in the village of Tong in the Isle of Lewis and his mother’s side of the family is from Huisinis here in Harris.

He moved to Glasgow to complete a BSc at Glasgow University and then undertook an MSc in Brewing and Distilling before the opportunity to return home and become a distiller with us presented a career path that couldn’t be passed up.

Paddy lists many pros to his job but he places his colleagues high up on his list. He adds that the chance to live and work in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, all while developing his love of whisky-making, is also a bonus.

Leaving city life to settle here in Harris, he’s now able to spend time with old school friends, play in the local shinty team and cherish the time he gets to spend with his Hearaich family, including his grandmother in Huisinis.

Paddy says, “I am also able to add to the population number here which is another great plus in my mind, even if it is only a small number…”

MEET DOMHNALL MACRAE
26 YEARS OLD

With both Scalpay and Leverburgh blood running through his veins, Dol proudly tells that his family come from the Isle of Harris.

Growing up in Fort William, visiting Harris was a regular holiday tradition for him, but in April 2022, Donald decided to make the move to the island for himself.

It wasn’t long before fellow distiller and shinty teammate, Paddy informed him of a distiller opportunity on his work team and the rest, as they say, is history.

Despite the cliché of a ‘family feel’ at the distillery, it couldn’t be more true for him as he often feels it’s more like a friend group than a work one having now settled in well and embraced his role as a Harris distiller.

Domhnall tells us, “I feel at home in Harris. There’s the social aspect, sports and playing as part of the shinty team, spending time with family and feeling at ease with my career and future ahead. The scenery still catches me out and I try my best not to take it for granted.”

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R&B Distillers gets go ahead for Machrihanish Distillery in Campbeltown

R&B also announces the acquisition of a controlling stake in Caskshare.com

William Dobbie, Managing Director of R&B Distillers: “Our Machrihanish Distillery news and Caskshare majority stake puts us on a clear track towards achieving our vision of becoming the leading new wave spirits business in Scotland.” 

Edinburgh, Isle of Raasay, London, 22^nd April 2024 – R&B Distillers has secured planning permission from Argyll and Bute Council for its Machrihanish Distillery, the first farm-to-bottle distillery in Campbeltown in over 180 years. R&B purchased the Dhurrie Farm in Machrihanish in 2021, and having received the green light for the distillery development – starting with whisky production followed by a full visitor experience, shop, and tasting room – will now work with various stakeholders around environmental guidelines and other conditions before beginning construction on the site next year.

The Machrihanish Distillery will deliver a new single malt Scotch whisky for R&B, who already own the award-winning Isle of Raasay Distillery, of which R&B says: “while different in style of spirit and region, will exhibit a similar philosophy around provenance, quality, and community regeneration”.

R&B plans to develop a sustainable net zero distilling model that removes any fossil fuel use from the whisky distilling process, using regenerative, environmentally friendly farming practices and creating greater biodiversity in the surrounding area. Up to 20 new jobs will be created in the region over time, having a positive impact on the local economy.

William Dobbie, Managing Director of R&B Distillers, said: “The rubber stamp for the distillery marks a major milestone on our journey in Campbeltown. When the whisky becomes of age our investment will go beyond production, attracting visitors to the region and supporting the local economy in a similar way to our existing distillery on Raasay.”

“We are excited to be making this investment in Campbeltown and supporting the local economy through jobs and visitors. This milestone has particular significance to our family as my father Bill’s family come from Drumlemble, a small village in between Machrihanish and Campbeltown.”

“We would like to thank everyone who has helped us get to this stage – including Argyll and Bute Council, neighbouring whisky producers Glen Scotia and J&A Mitchell, and most importantly our customers and partners for continuing to support R&B and our brands.”

R&B Distillers is also announcing the acquisition of a controlling stake in Caskshare.com, a global eCommerce platform and bottler of single cask spirits. Caskshare specialises in offering whisky fans single cask whiskies by the bottle, including Scotch whiskies, R&B- owned brands, and world whiskies, and enables producers to sell directly to consumers worldwide. R&B plans to add other cask-aged spirits like rum and cognac over time and will initially target markets in Europe and the United States.

William Dobbie added: “Our Machrihanish Distillery news and Caskshare majority stake puts us on a clear track towards achieving our vision of becoming the leading new wave spirits business in Scotland.”

R&B Distillers reported revenue of £5.0 million in the year ended 31st December 2023, and now sells in 40 markets worldwide after launching the Isle of Raasay Gin in mid-2019 and the Isle of Raasay Single Malt at the end of 2020. The company has set its sights on growing sales to over £25 million in the next decade.

THE MACHRIHANISH DISTILLERY 

The first farm to bottle distillery in Campbeltown in more than 180 years. A different style of whisky from a different whisky region in Scotland to complement our existing Isle of Raasay Single Malt.

Growing barley on Dhurrie Farm and have already malted and distilled some on Raasay.Will be a future special release. Predominantly unpeated spirit being produced and 100% sherry maturation, however using different types of sherry and production two different spirit types – a ‘lighter’ and a ‘heavier’ spirit, one targeting shorter and one targeting longer ageing.

Similar underlying philosophy of provenance, authenticity and community. Planning permission was granted in April 2024. Targeting construction to begin in March 2025 after planning conditions have been addressed. Targeting production starting in 2026 First Machrihanish Single Malt sometime in the future…

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom