🥃 Bladnoch
Distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand in Galloway near Newton Stewart (Lowlands); licence granted in 1817; bought in 2015 by David Prior; production resumed in 2017.
Bladnoch is a distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand on the banks of the River Bladnoch in Galloway, near Newton Stewart, in the Lowlands of Scotland. According to the producer, it is the southernmost distillery in Scotland; its history dates back to 1817, when John and Thomas McClelland were granted a licence to distil on their Bladnoch farm. The producer describes it as independently owned.
History. The McClelland family ran and modernised the site for nearly a century; after 1905 it changed hands several times. The stills fell silent during the war and were recommissioned in 1956, and in 1966 the stillhouse was expanded to four stills. Arthur Bell & Sons owned it from 1983 to 1993, then Raymond and Colin Armstrong from 1993. David Prior bought the company from the Armstrongs in 2015; after two years of renovation, production resumed in 2017.
How it is made. According to the producer, the water comes from the River Bladnoch and the malt from British growers. The producer describes its style as Lowland and its whiskies as "bold Galloway spirit".
Why this matters to you. A Scotch single malt is made in Scotland, matured in oak for at least 3 years and bottled at no less than 40% ABV (Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009). The WHO reminds: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1817, John and Thomas McClelland (licence; Bladnoch, Galloway, Lowlands) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky) |
| Raw material | malt from British growers; water from the River Bladnoch (according to the producer) |
| Distillation method | four stills since 1966 (according to the producer) |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40% ABV by law |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Bladnoch → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Lowland whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Glenkinchie, 🥃 Auchentoshan
Frequently asked questions
Is Bladnoch the southernmost distillery in Scotland?
According to the producer, yes: "Bladnoch is the southernmost distillery in Scotland".
Who owns Bladnoch?
The producer describes it as independently owned; David Prior acquired the company from the Armstrongs in 2015.
When was Bladnoch founded?
The producer dates its history to 1817, when John and Thomas McClelland were granted a licence to distil on their Bladnoch farm.
Can you visit the Bladnoch distillery?
The producer offers distillery visits and events at its site in Galloway; check its website for current dates.
What does a Lowland single malt like Bladnoch have to meet by law?
A Scotch single malt is made at one distillery in Scotland, matured in oak for at least 3 years and bottled at no less than 40% ABV (Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009).
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden vessel made of oak staves in which wine matures, picks up new aromas and slowly takes in air.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
Similar
🥃 Rosebank · 🥃 Teaninich · 🥃 Glen Elgin · 🥃 Glen Ord · 🥃 Glengyle · 🥃 Benrinnes
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
What it includes
Sources
- Bladnoch Distillery: Our Story (McClelland licence 1817, recommissioned 1956, four stills 1966, Arthur Bell & Sons 1983-1993, Armstrong 1993, David Prior 2015, production resumed 2017, River Bladnoch water, British malt, Lowland style, independently owned, southernmost distillery in Scotland)
- Bladnoch Distillery: Visit Bladnoch (distillery visits and events, Bladnoch, Dumfries & Galloway, DG8 9AB)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)