Ardgowan Distillery
Ardgowan Distillery sits on the historic Ardgowan Estate near Inverkip on Scotland’s west coast, overlooking the Firth of Clyde. It’s part of the Lowland whisky region, and the first new distillery to open in Inverclyde in over a century. The estate has whisky history of its own: the original Ardgowan distillery operated in nearby Greenock from 1896 until it was destroyed in the Greenock Blitz of 7 May 1941.
Planning permission for the modern distillery was approved in 2017, with construction beginning in earnest in November 2023. After what the team has called an eight-year journey from idea to spirit, Ardgowan filled its first cask on 20 June 2025, styling itself as a “Cathedral of Whisky.” The build cost is reported at around £20 million.
Sustainability runs through the whole project. The building uses a Scandinavian longhouse design with a roof made from 97% recycled aluminium, and the stills incorporate Thermal Vapour Recompression technology to capture and reuse waste heat, part of a stated goal to reach net-zero within five years of opening. Water comes from a natural spring on the estate itself.
Ardgowan’s signature idea is the Infinity Cask: European oak casks seasoned with sherry for three years before the distillery even began production, developed with Bodegas Miguel Martín and Stuart MacPherson, previously master of wood at The Macallan. These casks are intended for maturation of 18 years or more, in a deliberate echo of what Ardgowan calls the “golden age” of long-matured Scotch. Since Ardgowan’s own single malt won’t be ready for years, the distillery currently trades under its Clydebuilt range, a bridging collection of blended malt and grain whiskies named for the Clyde’s shipbuilding heritage.
The distillery is open to visitors, with tours and a shop on site at Bankfoot Farm.
Ardgowan Whiskies
As Ardgowan’s own single malt is still maturing, the current core range is sold under the Clydebuilt name. The Clydebuilt Collection comprises six expressions, five Blended Malts and one Single Grain:
- Clydebuilt Coppersmith – Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
- Clydebuilt Shipwright – Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
- Clydebuilt Sailmaker – Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
- Clydebuilt Anchorsmith – Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
- Clydebuilt Draughtsman – Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
- Clydebuilt Riveter – Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Distillery info:
Detail |
Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Ardgowan Distillery |
| Region | Lowland |
| Logo |  |
| Status | active |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Water source | Natural spring water from the Ardgowan Estate |
| Owned by | Ardgowan Distillery Company Limited |
| Address |
Bankfoot Farm, |
| Visitor centre | Yes, tours and shop open to the public |
| Website | https://www.ardgowandistillery.com |
| https://www.twitter.com/ArdgowanWhisky | |
| https://www.facebook.com/ArdgowanDistillery/ | |
| Community | N/A |
| Map |
Distillery Setup:
Component |
Capacity |
Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Mash tun | 5 tonnes | 1 (Full lauter, stainless steel) |
| Washback | ? litres | 6 (Stainless steel, temperature-controlled jackets) |
| Wash still | 12,000 litres | 1 (Lady Octavia (Copper, McMillan Coppersmiths, Thermal Vapour Recompression) |
| Spirit Still | 9,000 litres | 1 (Copper, McMillan Coppersmiths, Thermal Vapour Recompression) |
| Expected yearly output in LPA (Litres of pure alcohol) | 10,000,00 |