Ardgowan Distillery, Inverkip: Whisky Returns to Inverclyde
Ardgowan at a glance
| Region | Lowland (Inverkip, Inverclyde) |
| Founded | 2025 |
| Owner | Ardgowan Distillery Co. |
| Visitor centre | Yes — new centre |
| Tours | Tours & tastings |
| Opening | Open (from June 2025) — check the website |
| Website | ardgowandistillery.com |
Overview
Ardgowan, at Inverkip on the Firth of Clyde, filled its first cask in June 2025 — the first distillery in Inverclyde in over a century. Set on the historic Ardgowan Estate with views over the water to the Argyll hills, it is one of the most ambitious of the new Lowland distilleries.
The history
The Ardgowan project, led by founder Roland Grain, was years in the making before the distillery opened and filled its first cask in 2025. It sits on the Ardgowan Estate, the lands of the Shaw Stewart family, and aims to make a rich, sherried Clyde-coast malt.
The water & the land
Ardgowan draws on a spring/burn on the Ardgowan Estate (the exact named source is not yet published).
Ardgowan has a genuine land link: it sits on the Ardgowan Estate, the historic seat of the Shaw Stewart family at Inverkip — the first distillery here in more than a hundred years.
Visiting
Ardgowan opened its new visitor centre in June 2025, with tours and tastings — check the website. It sits on the Clyde coast, an easy run from Glasgow towards the Cowal ferries.
Nearby & more whisky
- Up the river in Glasgow: Clydeside
- Lowland — the region overview
- The whole picture: Scotch whisky — the full guide
Sources
- Ardgowan distillery — Wikipedia.
- The Spirits Business (2025).