How a Scottish Farm Became the ‘Queen of the Lowlands

In the Scottish Lowlands lies Bladnoch Distillery, one of the oldest whisky distilleries in the country. The distillery boasts a rich story that stretches back an impressive 206 years. Join us as we dive into the history of Bladnoch, Scotland, and Lowlands whisky in this Distillery Thursday.

Our journey takes us to the Scottish Lowlands of 1817. Close to the sea, Bladnoch Distillery sits on the river of the same name. It began life as a farm, but John and Thomas McClelland applied for a license to distill. They received it that year, marking the start of a golden era in which the family began crafting the water of life.

The McClelland family kept at it for nearly a century, passing down the secrets of distilling from one generation to the next. During this time the distillery expanded significantly and modernized in earnest.

At its peak, the distillery produced roughly 230,000 liters of alcohol annually and housed no fewer than six washbacks. It’s no wonder Bladnoch Distillery earned the nickname “Queen of the Lowlands.” But turbulent times lay ahead.

In the early 20th century, whisky sales slumped. Demand fell sharply, while supply surged. These two forces meant Bladnoch Distillery was among those forced to shut its doors. That happened in 1905, and the closure lasted until 1911.

In that year, a lifeline appeared from an unexpected place: Ireland. Dunville & Co., owner of the Royal Irish Distillery, purchased Bladnoch and restarted production of Lowlands whisky. Progress was uneven, with the stills falling silent more than once.

Then in 1937, Dunville received a stark message. Distillers Company Limited, an oversight body within the Scotch whisky industry, issued a statement declaring that Irish whiskey had no future.

The warning spooked Dunville & Co., which tried to offload Bladnoch Distillery quickly, even though it was profitable and held a healthy stock. A sale never materialized, and the distillery went bankrupt. The doors closed once more.

Bladnoch did find a new owner, but they chose to liquidate the distillery’s assets. The whisky and spirit stocks were sold off, and equipment like stills and washbacks went to Sweden. Bladnoch Distillery remained closed until 1956, changing hands several times in the interim as a stripped-down whisky enterprise.

Bladnoch reopened that year and quickly gained fresh momentum. It became part of Inver House, and in 1966 four new stills were installed in the old farm buildings. Just over a decade later, Inver House sold the distillery to Arthur Bell & Sons, who ramped up production once again. A visitor center also opened.

Arthur Bell & Sons eventually placed Bladnoch under Guinness. Production declined and ultimately stopped in 1993. Thankfully, the pause lasted just a year, as two brothers from Northern Ireland stepped onto the scene.

Raymond and Colin Armstrong bought the distillery and the surrounding land. Their initial plan was to create a holiday village: the location seemed perfect, with abundant nature and the coast nearby. But they changed course and chose to make whisky again, which ran counter to the sale conditions.

In the end, the pair secured permission to resume distilling, but the venture didn’t turn a profit. They decided to sell. Australian entrepreneur David Prior purchased Bladnoch and immediately embarked on an ambitious renovation, an overhaul from top to bottom that took two years.

By 2017, the work was complete and production restarted. It also marked the distillery’s 200th anniversary: a milestone worth celebrating. Bladnoch did so with a bicentennial release.

This 29-year-old single malt was distilled in 1988 and released in 2018. At the time, it was the oldest Bladnoch ever bottled. Matured in Oloroso sherry casks and finished in Moscatel casks, the whisky leans toward a sweet profile with notes of vanilla, cherries, and chocolate. A few years later, the bottle finally reached the United States, where it hadn’t previously been available.

In the meantime, Bladnoch has unveiled a broad range of age-stated whiskies and themed series. The 2021 Single Cask Series, for example, features six distinct single-cask expressions. Then there’s the Dragon Series, five expressions that honor the art of whisky-making.

The distillery team can tell you much more about Bladnoch’s rich and tumultuous past and they’re delighted to do so on a tour, such as the 1817 tour, which guides you through the Lowlands maker’s story in two hours.

Photos: Bladnoch Distillery