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Scotland’s Ardgowan Distillery Inks Unique Cask Design Deal

Ardgowan’s new Inverclyde-based distillery, one of the region’s first zero-carbon distilleries, recently signed a £100-million deal with one of Spain’s oldest sherry cask producers to secure a decades-long supply of “infinity casks.”

A statement from Ardgowan notes this is believed to be the first unique cask design for the Scottish whisky industry in more than a hundred years.

Ardgowan commissioned Bodegas Miguel Martín to build the sustainably-sourced European oak casks, at a cost of 30 to 40 times more than standard whisky casks.

Ardgowan infinity casks
Ardgowan’s new Inverclyde-based distillery, one of the region’s first zero-carbon distilleries, recently signed a £100-million deal with one of Spain’s oldest sherry cask producers to secure a decades-long supply of “infinity casks.” (image via Ardgowan)

Ardgowan is nearing the start of its £20-million distillery building project, and the brand has appointed a new Master of Wood, Stuart MacPherson, who joins them from Edrington. He brings 43 years of experience in managerial roles at some of the world’s largest spirits companies, including more than a decade as Master of Wood at The Macallan.

Martin McAdam, Ardgowan CEO, said that with up to 80 percent of whisky aromas and flavors deriving from casks, it’s imperative to have a Master of Wood as experienced as Stuart to perfect their maturation process.

“The cask supply contract is an enormous commitment from Ardgowan and demonstrates our dedication to quality and our desire to create a fantastic whisky,” he said, “The Ardgowan Infinity cask is specifically designed for us and is the first unique cask design for the Scottish whisky industry in over a century. The casks are specifically designed for long-maturation and will be seasoned with organic sherry for 27 months – far longer than the industry standard of 12-18 months.”

Roland Grain, principal shareholder at Ardgowan and director of investments, said the new partnership with Bodegas Miguel Martín is indicative of “our commitment to creating what we hope to be the finest whisky in the world.”

The first batch of Ardgowan Infinity casks have already been manufactured and are now seasoning for at least two years in Bodegas’ dunnage warehouse in Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

Ardgowan Distillery unveiled its plans for the £20-million ‘“cathedral of whisky” distillery back in 2021, and scheduled production to start in 2024. A total funding package of £24 million has been secured for the project so far, the distiller noted, with another £3.6 million raised via a convertible loan note to shareholders.

In addition to creating 47 local jobs for Inverclyde, the distillery has invested in sustainable technology, partnering with Heriot-Watt University and engineers Briggs of Burton to develop pioneering technology to capture all the CO2 in its fermentation process and transform it into green biomethane.

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