Engineering team raise a dram to distillery’s eco-friendly ambition
AN engineering firm is set to start work on a multi-million-pound Scottish whisky distillery.
Briggs of Burton Plc will lead the process engineering of the design and production of the distillation equipment for the Ardgowan Distillery near Inverkip, west of Glasgow.
The project, which has pledged to be carbon-negative in its operations by 2024, will be achieved by creating a modular distillery which is able to adapt as sustainable technology evolves.
Work is due to start on the flagship distillery and visitor centre next year and Briggs is supporting Ardgowan to make sure that each part of the whisky-making process is designed so that new technologies can be swapped to provide the latest
innovations in energy reduction, heat recovery and CO2 capture as they become available.
George Crombie, engineering director at Briggs, said: “It is important that as technology advances the distillery is built in a way that it can adapt and grow with innovative new technologies to futureproof the sustainability of the industry. We are delighted to be working alongside Ardgowan Distillery to bring this greener vision to life which not only meets their sustainability and production targets now but future proofs for advancements in years to come.
“Building carbon neutrality along with energy and water reduction solutions is something that Briggs are keen to drive forward and we are proud to be leading the way in putting sustainability at the heart of the Scotch Whisky and Distilled Spirits industry.”
Briggs, which designs, engineers and builds distilleries around the world, has been appointed to oversee the creation and installation of the full lauter tun, fermenters and traditional handcrafted Scottish McMillan copper pot stills which will resurrect the Ardgowan name after the former distillery was partially destroyed in the May Blitz of 1941.
The first phase will incorporate two copper stills and six washbacks with the ability to create one million litres of single malt whisky a year. The already approved second phase will then provide two additional copper stills and washbacks doubling production.
Each part of the process has been designed to allow the distillery to adapt and evolve as technologies advance.
The chief executive of Ardgowan Distillery, Martin McAdam, said: “It was important to us that the
Ardgowan Distillery was not only sustainable by today’s standards, but set-up to lead the way in terms of sustainability across the industry in the future.
‘We are delighted with the plans that we have designed together with Briggs and are now excited to put them into place and set a new standard for sustainable distilleries.’
The original Ardgowan Distillery Company Ltd was formed in 1890s in Baker Street, Greenock. In the early 1900s the distillery was converted to make industrial alcohol before - in the Second World War it was used as part of a fiery mix to fuel RAF fighter planes.
The original distillery was almost destroyed in the Greenock Blitz of May 7, 1941, when it burned for two days with large blue flames.