FDBusiness.com

A project to build a new lowland Scotch malt whisky distillery and visitor centre in Inverclyde has taken major step forward with the award of nearly £1 million from the Scottish Government. The Ardgowan Distillery secured £982,000 from the government’s Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation (FPMC) grant scheme – providing vital capital towards construction costs.

Martin McAdam.

The distillery now plans to commence construction next year – with ambitious plans for a world-leading lowland malt whisky distillery by 2020.

Distillery chief executive Martin McAdam says: “The Scotch whisky industry supports over 40,000 jobs in Scotland, and is a vital component of Scotland’s ambitious food and drink growth strategy. 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.”

Once up and running, 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.

The distillery has already received full planning consent for the project, which will transform a former sawmill on estate land near Inverkip.

Earlier this year the distillery appointed industry veteran Willie Phillips – who spearheaded The Macallan malt whisky for 18 years – as chairman of the business.

The new distillery 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 spirt and industrial alcohol until it was destroyed in the May Blitz of 1941.