Bladnoch Scotch Whisky

Bladnoch Whisky Distillery Information

Founded in 1817 by the McCelland Family

Location Lowland Southern most distillery in Scotland.

Water Source River Bladnoch

Bladnoch Whisky Distilling Equipment

Stainless Steel Mash Tun,

6 Oregon Pine Washbacks

2 Tall Pot Stills with boil balls in their necks.

Matured in a mix of American oak bourbon and European ex Sherry casks.

Bladnoch Whisky Distillery Information

The McClelland family established Bladnoch distillery in 1817. It was originally attached to a farm and was supplied with the local barley. It was rebuilt in 1871 and passed to T & A McClelland and Co in 1878.

During the late1890's "misfortunes" overtook the whisky industry; there was a reduction nation in the production of barley, coupled with a rise in excise duty and the growth of the various temperance movements. This forced the other Galloway distilleries to close, Somehow Bladnoch survived. Between 1911 and 1937 its ownership was with Wm Dunville & Co. Ltd, an Irish wine and spirits company who closed the distillery in 1938. However malt continued to be produced until 1949 when the maltings closed.

The Distillery was resurrected as the Bladnoch Distillery Co Ltd in 1957. Another pair of stills was added in 1966. During the latter part of the 20th century the distillery went through different owners including Inver House Distillers Ltd between 1973 and 1983,

Bladnoch then passed to Arthur Bell & Sons who modernised the distillery and introduced computerisation. In 1987 Bells themselves were taken over by United Distillers, who continued the modernisation programme.

United Distillers mothballed the distillery in 1993. One year later Raymond Armstrong an Irish businessman acquired it under the condition that the distillery remained silent. After careful and prolonged discussion with UDV the condition was amended to a limited out put.

The visitor centre was opened in 1998 and to the joy of whisky lover’s Limited production commenced in 2000

Bladnoch is the southern most distillery in Scotland Its water is drawn from the nearby River Bladnoch In the pastures around the distillery can be found the Belted Galloway a regional breed of black-faced sheep, which is the emblem on the new Bladnoch bottle label.

The Distillery from time to time runs a whisky school an ideal opportunity to participate in all aspects of milling, mashing and distilling together with classroom instruction on whisky making by whisky experts.

The Cost includes lunch on each day, dinner on Saturday night, various tasting’s, a Whisky school diary and Certificate on completion. For more information contact the distillery for more details

Published 8 times a year Whisky Magazine is the perfect complement to the dram in your glass. Every issue brings you fascinating articles on the art, science and romance of the 'water of life', plus page after page of tasting notes

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