Ardgowan Distillery plans new site

Plans to build a new Lowland distillery near Inverkip have taken a step forward with the submission of a planning application to the local council.

The Ardgowan Distillery Company has submitted proposals to build a whisky distillery and visitor attraction on the Ardgowan Estate

The Ardgowan Distillery Company has tabled proposals to build a whisky distillery and visitor attraction on the Ardgowan Estate, by Inverkip, 30 miles west of Glasgow.

Commenting on the application, the project’s chief executive Martin McAdam said: “We are really excited by our proposal and believe that a new Ardgowan Distillery will have a very positive impact on the local economy.

“More than 150 people came to our public consultation event in September and we received more than 60 questionnaire responses which we have taken into account in our planning application. We’ve been really delighted at the positive response our plans have generated so far.”

McAdam added: “Our ambition is to build a world-class distillery and visitor attraction in the heart of Inverclyde. The area has tremendous heritage and natural resources including a great water supply and we are working with the Ardgowan Estate to create a globally-recognised new lowland malt which will put the area firmly on the whisky map.”

The proposal will resurrect the name of the Ardgowan Distillery, which was founded in 1896 and located in Baker Street, Greenock.

After a few years of whisky production, the distillery was used to make grain spirit and industrial alcohol until it was destroyed in the May Blitz of 1941.

A decision from the council is expected by spring 2017, and if approved, the distillery is scheduled to be operational in 2019.