Ardgowan secures funding for £12m Scotch distillery

The Ardgowan Distillery has secured a £1 million grant to build a £12m malt whisky distillery and visitor centre in Inverclyde, 30 miles west of Glasgow.

Ardgowan CEO Martin McAdam

The Ardgowan Distillery has been awarded £982,000 from the Scottish government’s Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation (FPMC) grant scheme – providing vital capital towards its construction costs.

The distillery received planning permission for the project in March of this year, which will be built on the site of a former sawmill on land near Inverkip, and will resurrect the Ardgowan Distillery, which was first  founded in 1896 and located in Baker Street, Greenock.

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

Once open, the distillery will create six new full-time jobs, with up to 15 additional jobs in the visitor centre and retail operations, with around 47 further jobs created in the wider economy during the first five years.

“This £12 million project will move Inverclyde up the rankings for food and drink production in Scotland. During construction the project will support 35 jobs and contribute over £2 million to the local economy,” said distillery CEO Martin McAdam.

“We are extremely grateful to the Scottish Government for their generous support, and to all others who have backed the project so far, especially the local community for their enthusiasm and encouragement.”

Willie Phillips – who worked as managing director of The Macallan from 1978 until the company was bought by Highland Distillers in 1996 – was appointed chairman of Ardgowan earlier this year. Also on board is former Bruichladdich and Springbank director Gordon Wright who will advise on commercial development and sales.

The team plans to commence construction of the new distillery next year, with completion set by 2020.