Ardgowan invests £5m in Clydebuilt stocks
Scotch whisky producer Ardgowan invested £5 million (US$6.7m) in ageing whisky stocks for Clydebuilt in 2025, with a further £4m (US$5.3m) planned for 2026.
Ardgowan Distillery Company has been laying down stocks for Clydebuilt since the company was founded in 2016. The brand is both a blender and a bottler of single casks.
The site began distilling its own whisky in June, after eight years of planning and construction.
The company said Clydebuilt “offers the opportunity for us to showcase our expertise in wood management and the art of blending” while its single malt is ageing.
CEO Roland Grain said: “Our bespoke Infinity Casks for Ardgowan spirit are designed for long maturation by their very nature. The stock we’ve already acquired, and this further investment, ensure Clydebuilt will have solid foundations for the decades ahead until Ardgowan single malt is truly ready. This is a key step in achieving our goal to double turnover annually until 2030.”
New releases
Clydebuilt has released four new whiskies, including three single cask bottlings.
Distillery manager Laura Davies oversaw and selected the casks, which were aged on site in the distillery’s traditional dunnage warehouses.
The first release is a 27-year-old Sherry-matured blended malt, originating from Speyside, the Highlands and the Islands. The expression brings together Highland and Island whiskies, which were matured in a Pedro Ximénez Sherry hogshead and blended with a 33-year-old malt distilled at Benrinnes Distillery.
Only 408 bottles are available, at an RRP of £95 (US$127).
Meanwhile, the second release is a single cask offering from Highland distillery Fettercairn. The whisky was aged in a 2009 Bourbon hogshead on site at Ardgowan Distillery and offers notes of ‘toffee apples and citrus zest’.
Just 272 bottles are available, at an RRP of £85 (US$113).
Clydebuilt has also bottled a 2012 Bourbon hogshead from Royal Brackla Distillery. Only 290 bottles are available, with the whisky offering flavours of ‘lemongrass, green apple and vanilla’. The bottling retails for £75 (US$100).
The final bottling is a whisky from Ben Nevis Distillery, which was matured in a 2014 Sherry butt. Limited to 327 bottles, the nose brings ‘cinnamon-stewed pears’ while the palate offers ‘butterscotch, nutmeg and brown sugar’. This release retails for £85 (US$113).
All four releases were bottled at cask strength, without colouring or chill filtration.
Davies said: “The Clydebuilt brand stands on craftsmanship and pride in quality, just like the Clyde’s former shipbuilders.
“With these new releases, we’ve drawn on exceptional whiskies and incredible, rich casks to create expressions full of character and individuality. These malts show just some of the scope we’re working with in our aged stocks.
“Having invested £5m this year in securing stock to lay down for Clydebuilt, there’s a very bright future ahead for the brand.”
The brand takes its name from the River Clyde, which is ‘world-renowned’ for its shipbuilding. Over the years, ‘Clydebuilt’ has allegedly become a byword for quality craftsmanship.
In September, Ardgowan announced a series of new distribution partnerships for Clydebuilt across key markets in Europe, North America and Asia.
The distillery expanded its visitor offering with a range of guided tours in September.
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