BLACKWOODS, the gin brand owned by London drinks business Distil, will be produced in Scotland from next year after a multi-million pound deal with the Ardgowan Distillery Company.
The deal will see Ardowan construct a new, £400,000 gin distillery and visitor centre on the Ardgowan Estate near Inverkip, which will become the home of Blackwoods.
Distil is also loaning Ardgowan Distillery an initial £3 million, with the possibility of a further £2m, which will help support the Inverclyde company as its whisky matures.
Ardgowan Distillery Company has released several whisky bottlings under the Expedition and Clydebuilt brands, however the distillery itself is still to be constructed. The project received a major boost earlier this year when Austrian businessman Roland Grain invested over £7m in the company, becoming the majority shareholder. Grain is also a 20% shareholder in Distil.
He said: “We are excited that Distil has chosen Ardgowan Distillery as the home for Blackwoods gin. The historical context of the Ardgowan Estate provides the perfect location for this award-winning spirit which is made traditionally using selected Scottish botanicals.
“Once complete this will be more than just a production facility, it will provide an opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the world of gin and we plan for this to be integrated fully into the distillery visitor experience at Inverkip.”
