Drummygar Distillery champions horse-tended heritage barley
The team behind independent bottler Living Souls has opened Drummygar Distillery near Arbroath, which began production in August.
The distillery’s first whiskies are expected in eight to 12 years.
The venture is said to combine traditional farming and modern craftsmanship, with the site home to a small working farm that uses heritage Chevallier barley tended by Clydesdale horses.
Drummygar says the barley has a ‘rich, malty character’ and was the dominant variety used in British whisky production throughout the 19th century. The barley later fell out of favour due to changes in tax rules.
John Torrance, who has 25 years of experience in distilling for firms including Diageo, Douglas Laing and Living Souls, will lead Drummygar Distillery.
Meanwhile, Zak Shenfield, formerly of Strathearn Distillery and BrewDog, has been appointed operations director and head distiller.
“At Drummygar, our watchwords are patience, quality and tradition. The last thing we want to do is rush things and compromise the quality of the spirit,” said Torrance. “Using Chevallier barley and Clydesdales isn’t a gimmick; we’re keen to honour the rich tradition of whisky production while cultivating a recognisable style that shines through in every vintage.”
The site features a traditional manual mash tun, three 1000-litre copper alembic stills, and four 2000-litre fermenters.
The distillery’s cask stores primarily comprise first-fill Bourbon, supported by Sherry, wine and specialist varieties. The team said these will be ‘actively managed to ensure a balanced flavour profile’.
The site is expected to produce 30,000 litres of pure alcohol in its first year.
“As John says, it’s about quality over haste,” added Shenfield. “We’re confident that with small stills and quality local barley, we can produce a spirit that speaks for itself. Given the destination is a distant point on the horizon, we’re focusing on enjoying the process and capturing the rhythm of the farm’s harvests over the years.”
Torrance and Shenfield will draw on the expertise of Living Souls co-founders Calum Leslie and Jamie Williamson. Leslie was previously head of innovation at Loch Lomond Group, while Williamson’s CV includes stints at Old Curiosity Distillery and Douglas Laing before starting his own spirits distributor, Kilninian Drinks Co.
Living Souls launched in late 2024 with four blended whiskies, the oldest of which was aged 40 years.
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