Ardgowan Distillery has named Roland Grain as its chief executive officer.
He replaces distillery founder Martin McAdam in a planned management transition that sees Ardgowan moves from the construction phase into production, with a focus on sustainability and innovation.
His appointment comes five months after the arrival of two copper stills to the distillery’s Inverkip site, around the same as Laura Davies took on the role of distillery manager.
“This is an incredibly proud moment for everyone involved with Ardgowan Distillery,” said Grain. “I’m honoured to lead the team as we build on Scotland’s whisky legacy. We can’t wait to welcome visitors to experience our craft first-hand when we officially open this June.”
Ardgowan’s official Opening Day takes place on Friday 20 June 2025. Visitors will be invited to explore the brand-new distillery, meet the people behind the whisky, and enjoy a day filled with live music, street food, and exceptional drams.
One of the standout moments of the day will be the unveiling of the Ardgowan Infinity Cask, a bespoke vessel crafted for ultra-long ageing. Designed to mature whisky over decades, it reflects Ardgowan’s “bold and thoughtful approach to flavour, time, and legacy”.
The event will also see the debut of a brand-new range of Clydebuilt bottlings, with limited numbers available for the first time on the day. At the centre of the collection is the exclusive Opening Day release – a whisky that marks the start of a new chapter for Ardgowan.
