The Rt. Hon. John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland Officially Opens Luss Distillery

First Minister unveiled the new landmark visitor experience from Loch Lomond Group 

The Rt. Hon. John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland, officially opened Luss Distillery, a new multi-million-pound distillery and visitor experience by Loch Lomond Group on the banks of Loch Lomond, marking one of the most significant new whisky tourism investments in Scotland in recent years.

Unveiled ahead of the peak tourist season, Luss Distillery represents a major commitment by Loch Lomond Group to Scotland’s spirits industry, rural tourism, and long-term economic growth, while creating new employment opportunities and supporting the local community.

Situated in the heart of the historic village of Luss, at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands, the new destination has been designed as an immersive discovery experience for whisky and gin connoisseurs, as well as those newly curious about Scotch whisky and premium spirits.

The purpose-built site comprises four distinctive buildings, including a working distillery, immersive whisky and gin discovery areas, a dedicated tasting room, retail space, and a café overlooking Loch Lomond. Together, they form a vibrant brand home for Loch Lomond Group’s multi-award-winning whiskies and spirits. The retail experience also showcases the Group’s wider portfolio, including Glen Scotia and Littlemill single malts, alongside other premium spirits and Champagne.

Following a soft opening in late 2025, Luss Distillery is expected to welcome up to one million visitors during 2026, capitalising on Luss’s status as one of Scotland’s most visited locations and a popular destination for both domestic and international travellers.

During the official opening event, the First Minister toured the new distillery and visitor experience, reflecting on the economic contribution of Scotch whisky and the positive impact the project will bring to the region, before unveiling a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.

Following the visit, Loch Lomond Group presented the First Minister with a bespoke bottle of Loch Lomond 14-Year-Old Luss Exclusive Cask, featuring personalised engraving. One of just 291 bottles produced, the exclusive release showcases the distillers’ unrivalled capability in flavour creation and is available only at Luss Distillery.

Colin Matthews, Founder and CEO of Loch Lomond Group and Council Member of the Scotch Whisky Association, said:

“Scotland is celebrated worldwide for its tourism, its exceptional Scotch whisky and spirits, and the natural beauty of places such as Loch Lomond and the Scottish Highlands. At Luss Distillery, we have brought these elements together to create a truly memorable destination – one that welcomes seasoned whisky and gin enthusiasts, as well as those curious to discover the people, place, the craft and passion behind our brands.

“We have long held ambitions to open a destination like this here on the banks of Loch Lomond, and it is a real privilege to have the First Minister mark this occasion with us as we look ahead to a busy spring and summer season.

“Scotland’s spirits sector is facing challenging times, which makes continued investment more important than ever. As one of the largest independent distillers in Scotland, we remain steadfast in our commitment to quality, history, authenticity and innovation, and we will continue to play a prominent role in developing Scotch whisky and the wider spirits industry to ensure it remains relevant, exciting and appealing to modern consumers.

“We call on the First Minister and colleagues across the political spectrum to continue their strong support for this great historic industry and the meaningful contribution it makes to Scotland and the wider UK.”

Colin concluded: “Every detail at Luss has been designed to celebrate the character of our spirits and the extraordinary landscape that inspires them, and we look forward to welcoming visitors throughout 2026.”

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney said: “It has been a pleasure to open the new Luss Distillery on the banks of Loch Lomond. The distillery and visitor centre not only adds to the quality of the tourism offering in Luss but also to Scotland’s international reputation as a world class destination for visitors.

“This investment by the Loch Lomond Group is extremely welcome, particularly when there are serious challenges impacting on the whisky sector, both at home and abroad.

“The spirits sector may be defined by its 170 export markets, its approximately £5.3 billion contribution to the Scottish economy, and the thousands of jobs it sustains, but it is the history and stories behind it, like those told here, that capture people’s imagination and bring visitors from across the world. Telling the story of the history and quality of our produce and its importance to Scotland’s economy, like that at Luss Distillery, is a key priority of my government and we will continue to do all we can to support this vital industry.”

The design and experiential concept for Luss Distillery was led by Scottish creative studio Paul Hodgkiss Designs, alongside Diverse Contracts and brand experience agency Hot Pickle, working with a wider team to deliver the construction and realisation of the project. From the earliest stages, the vision was to create a building that belongs to its setting rather than competes with it, drawing inspiration from the natural rhythms of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

The result is a contemporary distillery that celebrates sustainability, heritage, and community in equal measure.

Luss Distillery will be open daily from 10am to 5pm.

For more information, visit https://lussdistillery.com/

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

About the Loch Lomond Group

Loch Lomond Group is an independent distiller based in Alexandria, Scotland and is home to many 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. www.lochlomondgroup.com

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Lochindaal 12 Year Old 2009 vintage Islay peated single malt Scotch whisky distilled at Bruichladdich. Single first fill bourbon barrel #76 bottled September 2021 by The Single Cask. 229 numbered bottles. Lochindaal is a peated (50ppm) style distilled at Bruichladdich distillery between 2007 and 2009. It is believed that only 250 casks were produced.

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This Evans Family Reserve release is finished in casks used in the making of a port-style fortified wine here in British Columbia. While visiting The Burrowing Owl Estate Winery in 2024 we got to try the Coruja (which is Portuguese for Owl). We were immediately impressed with its quality and uniqueness, and knew right away that we wanted to finish a whisky in one of these barrels.

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This expression is also available at cask strength to members of the Shelter Point Whisky Club. Find out more about the Whisky Club here.

We are still bottling some of Q1 but we can reveal the following casks will feature in the first outrun of the year! We’ll finish bottling in February and we are super excited about a very flavoursome set of casks!

Ardmore 12yo Refill Ex-Oloroso finish
Auchroisk 11yo Ex-Manzanilla finish
Blair Athol 11yo Ex-Amontillado finish
Dalmunach 10yo Ex- Oloroso barrel
Mortlach 13yo Ex-Oloroso finish
Port Charlotte 20yo Refill Barrel
Tamnavulin 10yo Refill HHD

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It has been 13 years since Wolfburn was awakened from its long sleep. Rebuilt through the winter of 2012, the stills were finally switched on in January 2013 – and on Burns Night that year, the first spirit flowed once again. It was a cold day, a quiet moment, and the beginning of everything that followed. You can read more recollections from that day in our recent blog post. More than 500 mashes and distillations later, we remain firmly on-spirit – and very much in high spirits. None of this would be possible without your continued support, whether you have enjoyed our whiskies at home, shared them with friends, or made the journey north to visit us. If you have visited before, we look forward to welcoming you back again soon and for those of you yet to make the trip a warm welcome always awaits. Thank you for being part of the Wolfburn story – past, present and future.

The Wolfburn Team