Spirit of the Lowlands
About Bladnoch
Scotland’s most southerly distillery nestles on the green banks of the River Bladnoch, from which it takes its name. Located in this beautifully remote area of Galloway, the distillery has been producing the “Spirit of the Lowlands” since 1817.
The distillery was founded by John and Thomas McClelland in 1817 and during the period 1823 – 1826 produced 28,956 gallons of whisky, an average of 7,239 gallons per annum, and in the year 1826 – 1827 this had risen to 9,792 gallons.
By 1845 twenty workers, exclusive of tradesmen, were employed in converting 16,000 bushels of barley per annum into spirit. In 1878 the distillery was enlarged and modernised, presumably to cope with rising production. By 1887 the site occupied 2 acres with a further 50 acres being farmed by the proprietor, who was the son and nephew of the founders; the output had risen considerably to 51,000 gallons per annum.
During the 1890’s “misfortunes” which are not specified struck the distilling industry; these could have been the reduction nation-wide in the production of barley, a possible rise in excise duty and the growth of the various temperance movements. The other distilleries in Galloway were forced to close but Bladnoch survived. Between 1911 and 1937 it was owned by Wm Dunville & Co. Ltd, an Irish company, and on the outbreak of World War II whisky production ceased, but malt continued to be produced until 1949 when the distillery closed until 1957.
Upon re-opening under new ownership whisky production began again and continued under a number of different owners until 1983 when Bell’s took over and initiated a programme of modernisation and computerisation. In 1987 the United Distillers Group took over Bell’s and continued the modernisation as a result of which the weekly production rose to over 8,000 gallons, more than eight times the output in 1887.
The distillery was bought by Irishman Raymond Armstrong in 1996. His astounding energy has seen Bladnoch emerge from enforced silence into steaming, flowing production.
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