Loch Lomond Group gets the green light for a new distillery in Luss

A village next to a loch
Luss is a popular tourist spot on the western banks of Loch Lomond

With planning permission secured, building work has begun on the Loch Lomond Group’s new multi-million-pound distillery and visitor centre in Luss.

The 5,362 sq.m site in the popular tourist village on the western banks of Loch Lomond is to become a ‘stunning new brand home’ for the award-winning Loch Lomond whisky brands, as well as a distillery for the Ben Lomond gin brand.

The permission from Argyll and Bute Council and Luss Estates is for the repurposing of the old Luss smokehouse and surrounding land on Church Road into a new distillery and visitor centre, with completion anticipated for summer 2025.

ben-lomond-gin

Once opened, the development will offer guided tours of the distillery, ‘fully immersive brand experiences’ at its discovery centre, a premium food and drink offering and a flagship retail space housing the full range of the group’s Scotch Whisky brands – Loch Lomond, Glen Scotia, and Littlemill – as well as Ben Lomond Gin products.

The announcement follows a period of growth and global recognition for the Loch Lomond Group’s brands. Ben Lomond gin was named as one of the top five gins in the world at the 2024 San Francisco Spirits Competition, achieving a Double Gold and a 98-point scoring award.

Both Loch Lomond Whiskies and Ben Lomond Gin are also the official spirits of The Open Golf championship.

Founder and CEO of Loch Lomond Group, and director of the Scotch Whisky Association, Colin Matthews, said: “This significant multi-million-pound investment in a new distillery and visitor experience marks another major milestone for The Loch Lomond Group.

The Loch Lomond Group had a prominent presence at 2024’s Bar Convent Berlin

“The development is a testament to our commitment to innovation, quality, and investing in the spirits industry in Scotland. The result will be a truly unique destination that supports the local community, creates new jobs, and showcases the very best of what we have to offer across the Loch Lomond Group.

“The investment comes despite the challenges facing our industry and it reflects our confidence in the local community and the long-term resilience of Scotch whisky and distilling in Scotland.”

Matthews noted, however, that his company’s financial commitment had come at a time ‘when the UK government’s ill-conceived tax hikes, broken promises of support, and unfair regulations are creating major obstacles for distilling in Scotland to remain competitive’.

“For investments like this to succeed, the government must change course urgently by taking a common sense approach to support our industry, enabling job creation and economic growth, and ensuring fair competition on a global stage,” he said.

“Scotland’s spirits are sold to the world, and that should not be taken for granted by our government,” warned Matthews. “It’s time for real change and real action, not just empty words and broken promises.”