MUIR Construction has began work on the first phase of the £20 million build of Ardgowan Distillery.
The ‘cathedral of whisky’ will be Inverclyde’s first zero-carbon whisky distillery, with it set to create up to 47 local jobs and produce up to one million litres of whisky per year once complete.
Phase one of the project is expected to last 12 months and will see Muir Construction complete the distillery’s main production elements including core groundworks, steelwork, and distillation equipment – enabling it to begin producing its own spirit from 2024.
The distillery design uses low environmental impact composite cladding, as well as timber and steel materials to create a modern Nordic long hall – symbolising resurrection and rising from the ashes of the former Ardgowan Distillery in Greenock, which was bombed during the 1941 Blitz.
Technology to capture all of the CO2 in its fermentation process to transform it into green biomethane will also be utilised, thanks to a partnership with Heriot-Watt University and engineers Briggs of Burton.
Martin McAdam, CEO of Ardgowan Distillery, said, “It’s been almost seven years in the planning, spanning Brexit, a global pandemic, and five Prime Ministers. But now, finally, we have started construction
“Muir have been integral in constructing some of the finest Scotch Whisky distilleries open today and are at the forefront of several pioneering Scottish sustainability projects. We welcome their expertise as we embark on the first major phase of our state of the art distillery.”
