| Glasgow distillery | |
| Location: | Glasgow |
| Founded: | 2015 |
| Founder: | Liam Hughes, Mike Hayward, Ian McDougall |
| Capacity: | 440,000 litres |
| Source: | Loch Katrine |
| Stills: | 2 wash stills 2 spirit stills |
| Type: | Lowland |
Glasgow distillery is a Scotch whisky, gin and rum distillery in Glasgow, Scotland.[1] [2] [3] In 2020, the distillery was named distillery of the year at the Scottish Whisky Awards.[4] [5] Glasgow distillery was the first active distillery in greater Glasgow since 1902 (note that Clydeside distillery later began production in the city centre in 2017).[6]
The distillery is located in Hillington in south-western Glasgow.[1] [3] [2] The distillery is near the M8 motorway.
The distillery also has an office and tour facility on West George Street in Glasgow city centre.[7]
The distillery was formed with funding from private investors under the direction of founders Liam Hughes, Mike Hayward and Ian MacDougall in 2012.[1] [6] Production commenced on 20 March 2015.[1] [2]
In 2020, the distillery received a £5.5m loan to enable it to expand.[8]
The distillery has a specially built laboratory for experimenting with new make spirit and different wood casks.[1]
The distillery production stills are named after sisters Frances and Margaret MacDonald who were both Scottish artists and part of the Glasgow Girls, a group of female designers and artists associated with the Glasgow School.[9] The stills have the capacity to produce 440,000 litres a year (equivalent to 1 million bottles) of whisky.[9]
The distillery offers joint tours with Tennents Brewery.[7]
The distillery produces a Lowland style single malt using water from Loch Katrine in the nearby Trossachs area.[1] [6] The first single malt from the distillery was released in 2018.[10] One of the core bottlings from the distillery is named the 1770 Glasgow Single Malt in reference to Glasgow's first distillery in Dundashill (built 1770 now defunct).[2] [6] [10] [11]
The distillery produces a gin Makar Glasgow Gin.[12]
In 2019, the distillery launched a special edition spiced rum, named after 18th and 19th century drinkers.[13]