.jpg) | |
| Region:Lowland | |
|---|---|
| Location | Wigtown,Galloway |
| Owner | David Prior |
| Founded | 1817 |
| Status | Operational |
| Water source | River Bladnoch |
| No. of stills | 2 wash 2 spirit[1] |
| Capacity | 1.5 million litres |
| Website | http://www.bladnoch.com |
Bladnoch distillery is aLowland single maltScotch whiskydistillery located at Bladnoch, nearWigtown,Dumfries and Galloway in south westScotland.
The distillery is situated on the banks of theRiver Bladnoch. It is one of six remainingLowland distilleries, and is the most southerly whisky distillery in Scotland.
Bladnoch distillery was founded by John and Thomas McClelland in 1817[2] and during the period 1823 - 1826 produced 28,956 imperial gallons (131,640 L) of whisky, an average of 7,239 imperial gallons (32,910 L) per annum, and in the year 1826 - 1827 this had risen to 9,792 imperial gallons (44,520 L).
By 1845 twenty workers, exclusive of tradesmen, were employed in converting 16,000 bushels of barley per annum into spirit. In 1878 the distillery was enlarged and modernised, presumably to cope with rising production. By 1887 the site occupied 2 acres (1 hectare) with a further 50 acres (20 hectares) being farmed by the proprietor, who was the son and nephew of the founders; the output had risen considerably to 51,000 imperial gallons (230,000 L) per annum.
In 1887 the distillery was described, by John Barnard on his tour of distilleries, as:
During the 1890s "misfortunes" which are not specified struck the distilling industry; these could have been the reduction nationwide in the production of barley, a possible rise in excise duty and the growth of the varioustemperance movements. The other distilleries inGalloway were forced to close but Bladnoch survived. Between 1911 and 1937 it was owned by Wm Dunville & Co. Ltd, an Irish company, and on the outbreak ofWorld War II whisky production ceased, but malt continued to be produced until 1949 when the distillery closed until 1957.
In 1966, Ian Fisher and McGowan & Cameron bought the distillery and in 1973 sold it toInver House Distillers.
In 1983,Arthur Bell & Sons took over and initiated a programme of modernisation and computerisation. In 1987 theUnited Distillers Group took over Bell's and continued the modernisation as a result of which the weekly production rose to over 8,000 imperial gallons (36,000 L), more than eight times the output in 1887.
In 1993, the distillery was closed by United Distillers. The mothballed distillery was discovered by Northern Irishman Raymond Armstrong while on holiday in the area with his family in 1994. Initially intending to convert the buildings into holiday homes for Northern Irish policemen who wished to escape from the Troubles in Northern Ireland, Raymond fell in love with the distillery and his plans changed. After several years spent finding and replacing the old plant and equipment, much of which had been wrapped in plastic in storage since its closure, the distillery reopened for production in December 2000. The first 8-Year-Old Single Malt produced by the Raymond became available in 2009. The company operating Bladnoch was closed in March 2014. The distillery was purchased in July 2015 by Australian entrepreneurDavid Prior, who had sold his five:Am yoghurt business for £52m in August 2014.[4] Prior is thought to be the first Australian to buy a Scotch whisky distillery.[5]
Bladnoch distillery resumed production in spring of 2017, with much new equipment, including a 5 tonemash tun, six Douglas Fir wooden wash backs, two 12,500 litre capacity wash stills, two 9,500 liter capacity low wines stills, and a steam boiler that will be fueled with LPG.[6] In late 2016, Prior officially relaunched Bladnoch, and announced three new expressions, created from aged stocks by master distiller Ian MacMillan: the no age statement Samsara, the 15-year-old Adela and the 25-year-old Talia.[7]
Bladnoch distillery also produces premium blended Scotch Whisky brand, Pure Scot.[8]
In July 2019, Dr. Nick Savage joined Bladnoch distillery as Master Distiller. Nick has formerly worked for William Grant & Sons and as Master Distiller of The Macallan.[9] Bladnoch distillery opened its Visitor Centre and Melba Café at an official opening ceremony on 11 September 2019.[10] The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay unveiled a commemorative plaque during the ceremony.[11][12]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
54°51′30″N4°27′43″W / 54.85833°N 4.46194°W /54.85833; -4.46194
