Scotland’s first brewery-distillery to open in Fife

Eden Brewery in Fife is to become Scotland’s first combined brewery and distillery as it branches out into Scotch whisky and gin production.

Eden Brewery will begin production of Scotch whisky in September

The St. Andrew’s craft brewer, which currently produces 19th Brew, Clock Brew and St Andrews Blonde beer, will begin distillation of Eden Mill whisky in September.

The move will bring whisky production back to the site for the first time in 150 years, since the Haig family produced grain whisky at the former Seggie Distillery between 1810 and 1860.

Eden Mill whisky will be a “bespoke” product matured in a variety of cask sizes, including hogsheads, Sherry butts and quarter casks.

Paul Miller, CEO of Eden Brewery and former Molson Coors sales director, told Herald Scotland: “It is not going to be mass market stuff, far from it. It will be bespoke.”

The distillery itself will have the capacity to produce up to around 80,000 litres of alcohol per year.

In the meantime, Miller intends to release a blended malt whisky comprised of liquid sourced from seven Scotch distilleries.

Available on limited allocation from October, the as-yet-unnamed whisky is currently being finished in a variety of cask varieties, including French oak, American virgin oak and Port wood.

Scotch whisky aside, Eden Brewery will release a range of seasonal spirits under the Eden Gin name, having worked in collaboration with the Strathearn Distillery and St Andrews Botanic Gardens on product development.

The first batch of Eden Gin will be released in September for local bars, restaurants and hotels.

“It is designed to encourage people to engage with the gin category, which we think is a really exciting area, Scottish gin in particular,” Miller added.

Scottish brewer Brewdog may be headed down a similar path, if their advertisement for an experienced distiller to head a new spirits division is anything to go by.