Have you ever heard of Lingdarroch? It's the trade name for the peated spirit crafted at Scotland's southernmost distillery. Need another clue? This Lowland distillery calls Scotland’s National Book Town, Wigtown, home and produces both peated and unpeated whiskies. And, it’s just a short boat trip across the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland. Still guessing? Lingdarroch comes from the esteemed Bladnoch Distillery.

We're excited to offer a taste of this spirit straight from the Scottish stills to the US. This peated new make spirit is bottled at a robust 62.9% ABV, with no dilution or added water – definitely not for the faint of heart! We invite you to taste it as is, share it with friends, or even try aging it yourself to see how time in the wood influences its character. You might consider experimenting with a whisky-making kit or a small tabletop barrel.

Interested in learning more about the origins of this exceptional new make? Like many distilleries, Bladnoch's history is rooted in farming. In 1817, brothers John and Thomas McClelland secured a license to officially distill whisky on their farm. The distillery remained within the McClelland family for nearly a century until 1905 when production ceased due to lower demand for Scotch whisky.

In 1911, Bladnoch was brought back to life by Dunville & Co, a Belfast-based distiller who recognized its potential. However, the distillery faced closure again in 1937 due to shifting market conditions. Over the years, ownership changed hands several times, including Ross & Coulter (who unfortunately sold off the aging stock and distilling equipment), Inver House, Bell’s, and Guinness. In 1993, Guinness (now part of Diageo) decommissioned Bladnoch, and it remained silent until two more brothers, the Armstrongs from Northern Ireland, arrived. Initially planning a resort on the site, they too were captivated by the prospect of whisky production.  However, due to the terms of their sales contract with Diageo, they were prohibited from making whisky on-site. It took six long years for them to persuade Diageo to allow small-scale production. This production was so limited that it wasn't truly profitable, and the brothers primarily relied on tourism and on-site storage for income.

Today, Bladnoch Distillery is flourishing under the ownership of Australian businessman David Prior. He acquired Bladnoch in 2015, and after significant refurbishment, the stills began flowing again in 2017. In 2019, Master Distiller Dr. Nick Savage, previously of The Macallan, joined the Bladnoch team. The malt's character is known for its fruity notes with a hint of spice, a result of its double distillation process. We're excited to see what character your own new make spirit from Bladnoch takes on under your watchful eye.