A BREWERY in West Dunbartonshire has announced plans to expand into whisky production.
Loch Lomond Brewery already produces gin and vodka through West Highland Spirits, which has its main distillery in Dumbarton.
However, owners have now established the Levenbank Distillery, which will specialise in whisky production, the Insider reports.
The new distillery will initially share space with the existing brewery in Dumbarton. However, plans are in motion for a separate distillery and visitor centre near the current site.
Fiona MacEachern, director at Loch Lomond Brewery, said: “Whisky has been on the cards for many years.
“The seed was firmly planted when Euan [Fiona’s partner] and I began distilling gin for West Highland Spirits, and whisky was the next natural step for us.
“We’re excited to approach distilling from a brewer’s perspective because whisky is essentially distilled from a high-ABV beer.
“We will be using some of our much-loved beer recipes to form the basis of our whiskies – something no one else in the industry is really focusing on.”
The team has already begun filling the first casks, with support from distillery consultant Jack Mayo, who has previously worked with Glasgow Distillery and Holyrood Distillery.
Mayo said: “Our custom-built copper and column stills are now installed, and we’re preparing to fill 150 to 200 casks.
“The distilling setup is designed to scale, with future capacity reaching over three times that volume, potentially delivering up to 80,000 litres of pure alcohol, with increased staffing and expanded wash-making facilities.”
Euan MacEachern, director and head distiller, said: “We want our whisky to be as remarkable as our beers.
“We’re working towards a flagship unaged single malt to be released around 2030/31, with a range of peated and unpeated expressions, including single casks, leading up to our 10-year-old single malt.”
