Stirling Distillery has started production of its own new-make whisky, marking the return of whisky making to the city for the first time since 1852.
The first brewing mash took place on Tuesday 3 October 2023, with the first gravity reading recorded that evening. The distilling process will see craft small-batch runs over the next few months as the distilling team develop the whisky’s gentle lowland flavour.
The distillery began its whisky journey with the launch of its Sons of Scotland independent bottling range, which was unveiled in 2021. The limited-edition collection celebrates the history of Stirlingshire’s whisky-making heritage with whiskies drawn from different regions of Scotland: the Highlands, Speyside, the Lowlands, and the Islands.
Stirling Distillery opened in 2019 focusing solely on gin, with the intention of moving into whisky as the business grew.
Distillery co-founder Cameron McCann spoke about the distillery’s whisky process: “For us, the essential elements in creating a truly special whisky are simple, from using only the best water, yeast and malted barley to the care that goes into hand-selecting the best quality casks. This will develop the rich flavours. We’re excited to be embarking on this whisky journey.”
The first releases of Stirling whisky will be ready in late 2026, and will be followed by the distillery’s ‘VI Casks for King James’ limited-edition six-bottle set. These rare bottles – with only 300 available – will be released biannually over three years. By purchasing a set, whisky enthusiasts will join the distillery’s Cask Club, giving them first refusal on all limited and first release whiskies along with other member benefits.
