ARDGOWAN DISTILLERY BEGINS

OFFERING WHISKY TOURS

Inverkip-based single malt producer Ardgowan invites the public behind the scenes on tours of its recently completed site.

The independent company, which opened and filled its first cask in June 2025, is now taking bookings for tours starting on Tuesday 12th August 2025.

Running twice per day at 10:30 and 14:00 from Tuesday to Saturday, the experiences will last 90 minutes and include a guided journey through the distillery and a warehouse, plus a tutored tasting for three malt whiskies from the distillery’s portfolio.

With a strong emphasis on sustainability, and a number of unusual elements within their processes, an Ardgowan tour promises to uncover many unique stories and insights.

The distillery’s on-site shop will be open from 12th August at 10:00-17:00, Tuesday to Saturday, stocking Ardgowan’s Clydebuilt range of whisky.

A Distillery Exclusive Clydebuilt 2012 Pedro Ximénez Hogshead Single Cask Single Malt expression is also available for £85.

Heading up the distillery’s shop and tours is experienced Visitor Centre Manager Barbara Campbell, whose passion and rich heritage comes from being the fifth generation in her family to work in whisky.

Campbell entered the industry in 1990 as Visitor Centre Manager at Glen Ord Distillery, involved in the development of a new 5 star visitor experience, before becoming the first female Diageo Brand Ambassador.

Remarking on this significant step for Ardgowan, Campbell shares:

“When I decided to talk to Ardgowan about joining the team, my intention was to inspire a new generation of whisky drinkers, enthusiasts like me and witness whisky production move in an innovative new way.

“It was quite simply a case of ‘what’s not to love’ when you see what Ardgowan have committed to with the wonderful, sustainable new distillery, alongside their commitment to being world-class and introducing the first new cask size for many years – ‘the Infinity Cask’ – intended for a luxurious maturation to look forward to in the future.

“Like many distilleries of the past, the Visitor Centre will evolve over time as we have an ambitious vision for the future and a wonderful heritage that we will leave for those who will follow. I am excited to have the opportunity to welcome visitors to Ardgowan and hope to see many soon.”

From Tuesday 12th August, the distillery shop will be open from 10:00-17:00, Tuesday to Saturday, and 90 minute tours will run on those days at 10:30 and 14:00. Click here to book.

ABOUT ARDGOWAN:

Nestled in the undulating Ardgowan Estate in Inverkip, we are on a mission to revive the golden age of Scotch whisky. We are led by Roland Grain, a whisky connoisseur coming from IT who built up ties in the Scotch whisky industry over the last 15 years. His journey now culminates in the creation of Ardgowan Distillery, where every decision has been made with quality and sustainability at the forefront. From our architecturally stunning distillery to our unique wood policy, every detail is designed to deliver full, flavoursome and robust spirit. At the heart of it all are our signature Infinity Casks: symbols of our long-term commitment to producing exceptional whisky.

#CraftedWithPurpose

While we await our own Single Malt coming of age, the Clydebuilt brand provides a home for our independent bottlings. Discover more here.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at ardgowandistillery.com

£180

This single cask Glenallachie 2007 was drawn from new oak and bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange. You will find aromas of pecan pie, demerara sugar and fallen leaves, give way to sawn oak, cinder toffee and cashew. The palate is rich and textured, with orange cake, masala chai and gingerbread leading into salted butter, dark chocolate and a warming touch of red chilli.

Tasting Notes ~ Billy Abbott, The Whisky Exchange

Nose Cherry cake with cinnamon, nutmeg and clove to start. Cla sweetness builds along with dessicated coconut, crystallised ginger, raisins, sultanas and baked apples. Creamy vanilla develops along with crème brûlée.

Palate Sharp apple sauce, baked apples with brown sugar and creamy custard. Spice then rolls in, with more brown sugar cut with the cinnamon, nutmeg and clove from the nose, as well as a touch of black pepper. Dark sweetness sits underneath: sticky ginger cake, spiced sponge cake batter, maraschino cherries and cassis.

Finish Spiced oatmeal and raisin cookies with Granny Smith apples and menthol zinginess.

Made in Speyside

Not every whisky has the body to stand up to new oak and retain a sense of distillery character. But the weight and pronounced fruitiness of modern Glenallachie means it harmonises perfectly with the warm, spicy flavours of fresh American oak. This is a big dram in every sense, not averse to a dash of water, and perfect for sipping with friends after a good meal.

Glenallachie

Celebrated master distiller Billy Walker acquired Glenallachie in 2017 and has since championed its powerful, fruity whisky as a first-rate single malt. His tenure has been marked by a serious investment in casks to create a bold house style that marries weighty spirit with top-quality oak. Glenallachie has since become a cult hit among whisky fans looking for intense Speyside malts with bags of character.

NORTH BRITISH 46 YEARS OLD

This single grain from North British Distillery in the Lowland region was distilled on the 15th December 1978 and aged for 46 years in second fill hogshead before bottling on the 16th July 2025. It was bottled by Woodrow’s of Edinburgh for their Warehouses Reserve collection, at natural cask strength of 53.1% ABV, at natural colour and no chill filtration. Limited to 107 bottles.

NOSE Vanilla butter cream, dried fruit and honey.
PALATE A creamy mouthfeel with milk chocolate, victoria sponge cake and panacotta. Sweet oranges and sultanas accompanied by an oaky musk.
FINISH White chocolate, figs and earl grey tea.

£260.00

A unique fusion of Scotch and New Zealand Malt Whiskies from Ardnamurchan and Cardrona Distilleries. The Cargill is a pioneering fusion of single cask whiskies from Scotland and New Zealand. Created in honour of William Cargill who led 350 migrants from Scotland to Otago in New Zealand in 1847.

£94.00

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

THE VIDEO REVIEW

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be looking at a selection of releases from award winning Independent bottler, the Heart Cut. The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum. Episode 604 – Getting To The Heart Of The Matter…! Filmed in The Study Nottingham

Featuring

The Heart Cut #11 JJ Corry Irish Whiskey 48%
The Heart Cut #16 Fielden English Rye 2019 (4 year old) 56.6%
The Heart Cut #14 Starward 2019 (5 year old) 55%
The Heart Cut #15 Starward 2018 (6 year old) 54%
The Heart Cut #10 White Peak 2020 (4 year old) 55%
The Heart Cut #17 Lochlea 2019 (5 year old) 54%

https://theheartcut.com

Edrington unveils The Macallan Timeless Collections

Renowned worldwide for its extraordinary single malt Scotch whiskies, The Macallan has reimagined its Double Cask, Sherry Oak and Colour Collections with a striking new visual identity, created by acclaimed designer David Carson.

Delicately blending the rich heritage and artistry of The Macallan with a forward-thinking outlook, the new designs offer a refreshed, modern perspective and vision for the future that celebrates the brand’s peerless craftsmanship and creative mastery.

Although the visual identity has evolved, the whisky remains the same unmistakable taste for which The Macallan is renowned – balanced, elegant and refined.

A longstanding collaborator with The Macallan, acclaimed contemporary graphic designer David Carson drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including how sherry wine and oak intersect to influence The Macallan’s distinctive taste, to create the evocative new vision for the Timeless Collections:

• The distinctive shape of The Macallan Distillery and its sweeping green roof informed the new bottle design, showcasing a direct connection between the brand packaging and The Macallan Estate

• The triangular shoulder label links the new Collections with the old and represents Spain’s Sherry Triangle – the Andalusian region famed for its sherry wine production, and the source of The Macallan’s exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks, which influence the entirely natural colour and flavour of all three Collections

• Rear label designs incorporate a new cask type symbol, to highlight the contribution of flavour and aroma imbued from American and European oak casks

• Enhanced consumer engagement through continued investment in world-leading anti-counterfeit technology to provide greater traceability, while also providing further insight into the expression through a unique QR code

Three Collections, One Signature:

The harmonious relationship between sherry wine and oak remains at the core of each expression, shaping the taste of the whisky in exemplary ways.

Double Cask Collection: Crafted with an exquisite balance of European and American oak casks seasoned with sherry wine in our bodegas in Jerez de la Frontera, the Double Cask Collection is an homage to The Macallan’s exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks and the extraordinary story of their creation: a journey that takes more than a hundred years and spans thousands of miles, from the forests of two continents to our vineyards in southern Spain. This smooth and creamy single malt features fresh fruits, toffee, and a balance of sweetness from the American oak, along with soft spices and dried fruits from the European oak. As it ages, the complexity deepens, revealing baked fruits and soft spices.

Sherry Oak Collection: Shaped by our sherry seasoned European oak casks, transforming robust new make spirit into rich, complex single malts. These whiskies, with natural mahogany hues, feature interlocking notes of dried fruits and ginger and a deep wood spice that intensifies with age. This collection represents the depth and intricacy of The Macallan’s heritage.

Colour Collection: Characterised by American oak casks seasoned with sherry wine from Jerez de la Frontera, resulting in a natural spectrum of golden hues. This collection features a fresh and vibrant single malt with notes of citrus fruits and vanilla, with tropical fruit flavours becoming more pronounced in the older expressions. First launched in 2023 under the visual direction of Carson, the Colour Collection paved the way for the current redesign – inspired by his idiosyncratic design philosophy – across the wider Timeless Collections.

Jaume Ferras, Creative Director at The Macallan, said: “The Macallan has never stood still and never will. This distinctive new identity offers a multitude of visual cues to tell our story, from the sherry seasoning to the American and European oak casks which contribute to the complex taste and flavour profiles in every bottle of The Macallan.”

David Carson, celebrated graphic designer whose artistic vision informed the redesign, said: “Like whisky, design is all about balance – with The Macallan, I wanted to create a visual identity that respects its rich history and encapsulates its forward-thinking spirit. Each detail, from the label designs to the bottle’s form, is a tribute to the mastery behind every dram.”

Availability of the expressions from across The Macallan’s reimagined Timeless Collections will be phased across 2025 and further information is available on www.themacallan.com/en

Adelphi Mortlach 38 Year Old 1987

This single malt from Mortlach Distillery from the Speyside region. It was distilled in 1987 and spend 38 years in Refill Bourbon hogshead. It was bottled in 2025 by Adelphi Selection at 45.9% ABV, at natural colour and no chill filtration, this dram has an unveiling sumptuous complexity. A top-tier, utterly engaging, truly one of the highlights of recent years.

£775.00

Cask Type: Refill Bourbon Hogshead

Distilled: 2011 Bottled: 2025

Limited: 188 Bottles

45.9% ABV

(BUNNA-hah-ven) Built in 1881, Bunnahabhain is situated on the north east coast of Islay, overlooking the Sound of Islay near Caol Ila. Bunnahabhain’s initial aim was to produce Whisky for blending only. While it was used across the industry, it performed a central role in three famous blends: Famous Grouse, Cutty Sark and Black Bottle. Following a short period of closure in the early 1980s, Bunnahabhain re-emerged as a Single Malt.

Bunnahabhain is known for producing a distinctive style of Islay single malt that is notably lighter and less peated than most others from the region. Bunnahabhain whiskies often feature maritime influences, rich sherry cask aging, and a smooth, complex character.

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Extraordinary Exclusives

Our exclusive whisky range contains some very special whiskies, specially selected by The Whisky Shop team and bottled by the distillery exclusively for our customers. Usually single casks, always limited.

EXPLORE EXCLUSIVES ❯

Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯

The Whisky World Cup 2025 Results ~ Drinking Out Loud Review

Eight unconventional whisky-making nations went head to head in the first-ever World Cup of Whisky at The Strath. Adam runs down the results and shares his own opinions in this crazy, crazy tournament.