Scottish independent bottler Living Souls has unveiled its new whisky distillery that uses traditional Clydesdale horses to farm heritage barley, marking an unusual blend of old and new production methods in the scotch whisky industry.
The team behind Living Souls announced the launch of Drummygar Distillery today (September 29th), with production already underway at the Arbroath-area facility. The distillery began operations in August 2025, though its first whiskies will not reach the market for 8-12 years.
Drummygar Distillery Combines Traditional Farming with Modern Equipment
John Torrance, who brings 25 years of experience from Diageo, Douglas Laing and Living Souls, leads the project alongside Operations Director and Head Distiller Zak Shenfield. Shenfield, previously of Strathearn Distillery and BrewDog, was named Scotland’s Young Distiller of the Year in 2016 at age 22.
“We’re confident that with small stills and quality local barley, we can produce a spirit that speaks for itself,” says Shenfield. “Given the destination is a distant point on the horizon, we’re focusing on enjoying the process and capturing therhythm of the farm’s harvests over the years.”
The distillery’s approach centers on using Chevallier barley, a heritage variety that dominated British whisky production in the 19th century. The barley is grown on a small working farm where Clydesdale horses handle the cultivation, a method the founders say reflects their commitment to traditional practices.
“At Drummygar our watchwords are patience, quality and tradition; the last thing we want to do is rush things and compromise the quality of the spirit,” says cofounder John Torrance. “Using Chevallier barley and Clydesdales isn’t a gimmick, we’re keen to honour the rich tradition of whisky production while cultivating a recognisable style that shines through in every vintage.”
The facility features a manual mash tun, three 1,000-liter copper alembic stills, and four 2,000-liter fermenters designed to produce a medium-to-heavy spirit. First-year production is expected to reach 30,000 liters of pure alcohol.
Drummygar Distillery Plans Long-Term Approach to Whisky Development
The distillery will primarily use first-fill bourbon casks, supplemented by sherry, wine, and other specialty casks. The team plans active cask management to develop a balanced flavor profile across different vintages.
Calum Leslie and Jamie Williamson, Torrance’s cofounders at Living Souls, bring additional expertise to the venture. Leslie previously served as Head of Innovation at Loch Lomond Group, while Williamson worked at Old Curiosity Distillery and Douglas Laing before founding spirits distributor Kilninian Drinks Co.
Living Souls launched in late 2024 and has already released three batches of whiskies, including a series of 40-year-old blends. This track record provides immediate credibility for the new distillery project, though consumers will need to wait until the mid-to-late 2030s for Drummygar’s first releases.
The use of Clydesdale horses and heritage barley distinguishes Drummygar from other new Scottish distilleries, though the founders stress these elements serve their quality goals rather than marketing purposes. The distillery’s location near Arbroath places it in Scotland’s eastern whisky-producing region.
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