One of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, Bladnoch Distillery has been bought out of liquidation by an Australian entrepreneur, David Prior, securing the future of eight jobs.
The distillery will be recruiting a number of new staff members and its existing eight warehouse, administrative and visitor centre staff will all be retained.
Prior is being supported by non-executive director Gavin Hewitt, former chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, to help redevelop the site.
Substantial investment needs to be made in the sites production facilities in order to meet the industry’s highest environmental standards, before the spirit flows again from the stills.
Prior said, “I am delighted to have been able to purchase a Scotch Whisky distillery of such renown as Bladnoch. Scotch Whisky is the world’s foremost spirit drink and I am proud to be part of the Scotch Whisky industry.”
Hewitt added, “It is wonderful to see one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries revived. I’m excited to be on the team which will breathe new life into Bladnoch and provide a stimulus for the local economy.”
The purchase continues the recent resurgence of distilling in southern Scotland which will see the number of Lowland working malt distilleries increase from two distilleries ten years ago to eight following the reopening of Bladnoch.
Nestled on the banks of the River Bladnoch, the distillery is Scotland’s second oldest working Lowland distillery and its most southerly.