Gartbreck distillery information
Gartbreck is a long-planned distillery on the island of Islay, sited on an old farm on the shore of Loch Indaal near Bowmore.
Gartbreck whisky
The intention is to produce a single product of whisky, which will be a typical peated Islay, with an intended PPM of 30/35. They will primarily mature in Bourbon barrels, though plans exist to also employ the use of Sherry casks.Distillery info:
Detail |
Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Gartbreck |
| Region | Islay |
| Country | Scotland |
| Logo |  |
| Status | In planning |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Water source | Grunnd Loch |
| Malting floor | No |
| Owned by | Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard) |
| Address | Gartbreck distillery Moss Rd Bowmore Isle of Islay PA43 7JG, United Kingdom +(44) 1496 511301 |
| Visitor centre | Planned |
| Website | http://www.gartbreck.com |
| http://www.twitter.com/Gartbreck_Islay | |
| https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gartbreck-Distillery/403260619809951 | |
| Map |
Distillery Setup:
Component |
Capacity |
Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Mash tun | 1 tonne | ? |
| Washback | 2,500 litres | ? |
| Wash still | 2,500 litres | 1 |
| Spirit Still | 1,500 litres | 1 |
| Expected yearly output in LPA (Litres of pure alcohol) | 60,000 litres |
Frequently Asked Questions
Not yet. As of writing, Gartbreck remains in the planning and construction stages, with Chivas Brothers targeting completion in September 2026. When finished, it’s expected to become the 13th distillery on the island of Islay.
Gartbreck is being built on an old farm on the shore of Loch Indaal on the island of Islay, near Bowmore.
Gartbreck is owned by Chivas Brothers (part of Pernod Ricard), who took over the site in 2023 with a reported £76 million budget after the project had stalled for years under original owner Jean Donnay amid a dispute with partner Hunter Laing.
Gartbreck plans to produce a single product: a classically peated Islay single malt with an intended phenol level of 30/35 PPM, matured primarily in bourbon barrels, with plans to also use sherry casks.
Gartbreck intends to use traditional methods including wooden washbacks and direct-fired stills, a technique shared by only a handful of other distilleries, including Glenfarclas, Glenfiddich, and Springbank.
Planning permission was originally granted in 2014 to owner Jean Donnay, but the project stalled for years amid a dispute with partner Hunter Laing over land earmarked for warehousing. Chivas Brothers took over the site in 2023 and submitted a fresh planning application in late 2024.
Gartbreck’s water source will be Grunnd Loch, located around 900 metres from the distillery.