Located in Dumbarton, Dalrigh Distillery has been launched by the people behind Loch Lomond Brewery, a multi-award-winning craft brewery running since 2011.
It's this brewing knowledge that is being used in the creation of spirits - including whisky, gin and rum - at Dalrigh Distillery.
With an extensive knowledge of malts and yeasts, the team will be using the very finest grains and botanicals grown in Scotland to create Dalrigh Scotch whiskies and Scottish gins, while the Dalrigh rum will use molasses and sugar cane for a true taste of the Caribbean.
Speaking about the distillery, managing director of Loch Lomond Brewery, Fiona MacEachern said: “We have been at the front of award-winning beer-making for many years now and a natural progression for the knowledge we have with barley, other grains, and yeasts is to work that into an amazing range of single grain and single malt whiskies with some interesting options for blends.
"We are looking forward to the exciting challenges that this most prestigious of products will set before us.
“For too long, the term ‘Scottish Craft’ has been hijacked by those who have taken shortcuts, often buying from large distilleries which are neither located in, nor sourced from, Scotland.
"We believe provenance should be both clear and honest. Our base spirit will be made on site using the purest
of Scottish ingredients.
"Many of the botanicals we use can be found around the west coast of Scotland, and there will be some slight variations in our range as we follow the flavours the seasons offer.
"Our rums will be made authentically too, with imported sugar cane and molasses to give a rich, deep sipping experience. Spirits of Scotland, made our way.”
Dalrigh Distillery's location is also part of the story, as Dumbarton was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of
Strathclyde, a border stronghold defending the land from the Vikings, with the Norwegian border just 10 miles
downriver.
The Gaelic name Dun Breatann means ‘Fortress of the Britons’. Dumbarton is mentioned in Monmouth’s accounts of King Arthur’s battles against the Picts, it was a place where William Wallace was imprisoned, and Mary Queen of Scots sheltered, but it is best known as the home of King Robert the Bruce.
Dalrigh means ‘Field of the King’. Dalrigh distillery is set on the outskirts of the family grounds. Of this, Fiona said: “We like to think The Bruce would have been happy to raise a dram o Dalrigh for auld lang syne."
Only 100 casks are being put into production this year, with just 50 now available for presale.
Investors will become part of the Dalrigh Founders’ Club, more information on which can be found on the Dalrigh Distillery website.
