Scotland’s Best New Distilleries
Celebrate Scotland’s New Distilleries with Scottish Rogue
To suggest that the Scotch whisky industry has been going through something of an expansion would be a bit of an understatement. Some 46 new distilleries have come into existence since the turn of the millennium, and there are many more in various stages of planning.
With a decline in whisky sales and some established distilleries slowing their output, it’s reasonable to be concerned about the challenges the future could hold for these distilleries. The whisky-buying fever of the last 15 years has well and truly dissipated. Will there be enough people regularly buying bottles to support such an inflated industry?
It is worrying times for Scotch but one thing that isn’t in question, is the quality of whisky that is being released by the new kids on the block. So many of the new distilleries are getting things right from the very beginning and Scottish Rogue has decided to celebrate that by showcasing some of our favourites at the latest edition of DRAM JAM.
For the uninitiated, DRAM JAM is a unique whisky tasting evening, with live traditional Scottish music, delicious cocktails and a tasting of exceptional Scotch whiskies. It takes place in the basement of the Old Toll Bar in Glasgow. DRAM JAM is a whisky tasting event unlike any other.
For our October session we’ve selected a lineup of whiskies from some of Scotland’s best new distilleries for your tasting pleasure…
Ardnahoe
Ardnahoe became the ninth malt whisky distillery on the island of Islay when it opened in 2019.
Founded by Glasgow-based, independent bottler, Hunter Laing, the distillery produces a classic Islay style of whisky, with a strong coastal influence and the familiar reek of Islay peat. The brand launched in May of 2024 with the excellent 5-year-old Inaugural Release and has continued to impress with a series of subsequent bottlings.
photo credit: Ardnahoe Distillery
Torabhaig
Torabhaig was established on the Isle of Skye in 2017, though the initial idea was formed almost 20 years earlier. Sir Iain Noble planned the distillery but wouldn’t live to see the project through. Enter Mossburn Distillers, a subsidiary of Marussia Beverages BV, who picked up the baton and ran with it. The first bottling arrived in 2021 and showed off a characterful, heavily peated whisky that’s proved more than worthy of a place on congested whisky shelves.
photo credit: Torabhaig Distillery
Lochlea
Lochlea Distillery was founded by Neil McGeoch, owner of Lochlea Farm. Planning permission was granted in 2014 and production began in 2018. Lochlea sailed under the radar of most whisky lovers until late 2021, when their first whisky was announced. The First Release arrived in early 2022, made from barley grown on the farm itself. The brand has continued to explore the concept of farm distilling through a series of seasonal releases.
photo credit: Lochlea Distillery
The Clydeside
The Clydeside should need no introduction to Glasgow-based whisky lovers.
The distillery was founded by the Morrisons, a family with deep roots in the whisky industry. The distillery resides in the old Pumphouse that once opened the hydraulic gate to the Queen’s Dock. The distillery began production in 2017 and launched its first whisky in 2021.
photo credit: The Clydeside Distillery
Ardnamurchan
The Ardnamurchan Distillery was first conceived in 2007 but planning permission wasn’t granted until 2012. Production began in 2014 but the launch of the first single malt wasn’t until 2020. It would be safe to say that Ardnamurchan has enjoyed some early success. It quickly established itself as one of the best of the new batch and has already developed something of a cult following among whisky lovers.
photo credit: Ardnamurchan Distillery
Join Scottish Rogue at the next edition of DRAM JAM on October 3rd as we taste our way through whiskies from each of the distilleries listed above.
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