Ardgowan Appoints Distillery Manager
The recent and newly built Ardgowan Distillery is set to commence whisky production and open its doors next spring. Distil has invested millions of pounds into the construction of Ardgowan.
Laura Davies comes to Ardgowan as the distillery manager after over a decade at The Welsh Whisky Company (Penderyn). Impressively, she played a crucial role in increasing the company’s turnover from £10 million to £23 million in just seven years. In addition, she managed operations across three production sites and visitor centers in Wales.
Martin McAdam, CEO of Ardgowan Distillery, stated: “We are thrilled to welcome Laura to the Ardgowan family. Her extensive industry experience, spanning distillation and business development, aligns seamlessly with our goal of establishing Ardgowan as a vital part of the community and a respected name in the global whisky industry.”
Davies was guided by the late Dr. Jim Swan, whose mentorship provided her with essential knowledge in whisky production and maturation techniques.
Ardgowan Appoints Laura Davies as Distillery Manager
In addition to her distillation expertise, Davies has a wealth of experience in compliance, continuous improvement strategies, and new product development. She has successfully commissioned three major production facilities and increased operations from 90,000 liters of pure alcohol (LPA) annually to over one million LPA per year. Notably, her career also includes the creation of three distinct flavored gins.
Davies holds a BSc (Hons) in Forensic Science with Criminology from the University of South Wales, as well as an MSc in International Innovation Management.
Reflecting on her new role, Davies stated, “Ardgowan is at such an exciting stage in its journey. Being part of the team as we build the distillery and operational framework from the ground up is truly special. I am eager to apply everything I’ve learned to help Ardgowan create an exceptional single malt.”
The recent appointment comes on the heels of Ardgowan’s acquisition of cutting-edge copper stills, designed by McMillan Coppersmiths from Prestonpans.
Renowned as the birthplace of Clydebuilt blended malt whisky, the Ardgowan facility also features the Blackwoods Gin distillery.
At the 2024 Scotch Whisky Masters, Clydebuilt’s Draughtsman earned a Master medal, while Anchorsmith was awarded a Gold medal.
Earlier this month, Distil reported a 38% drop in sales for the six months ending September 30, 2024, as inflation impacted consumer drinking habits.
