Award-Winning Scottish Brewers to Open New Lowland Whisky Distillery

Fiona and Euan MacEachern, the founders of Loch Lomond Brewery, are embarking on an exciting new venture—whisky production. After 14 years of crafting award-winning beers, the duo is bringing their expertise in brewing to the world of spirits, launching Levenbank Distillery near Loch Lomond.

Their journey into spirits production began with West Highland Spirits, a gin and vodka brand distilled at their Dumbarton-based facility on the banks of the River Leven. Now, they are taking their ambitions further, establishing Levenbank as the newest whisky producer in Scotland’s Lowlands.

Brewing Meets Distilling: A Unique Approach

For over a decade, the MacEacherns have perfected the art of brewing, creating renowned beers such as the multi-award-winning ‘Silkie Stout.’ Now, they are applying their knowledge of grains and yeast to whisky-making, differentiating themselves with a focus on brewing exceptional wort as the foundation of their spirits.

Levenbank Distillery, located just south of the Highland Line, benefits from the purity of Highland water. The distillery’s name pays homage to the River Leven, which flows from Loch Lomond and winds around the facility. With a background in brewing, Fiona and Euan are approaching whisky-making with a fresh, innovative perspective.

A Brewer’s Perspective on Whisky-Making

Fiona MacEachern, company director, shared her excitement about this new chapter:

“Whisky has been on the cards for many years. The seed was firmly planted when Euan and I began distilling gin for West Highland Spirits, and whisky was the natural next step for us.

“We’re excited to approach distilling from a brewer’s perspective because whisky is essentially distilled from a high-ABV beer.

“We will be using some of our much-loved beer recipes to form the basis of our whiskies—something no one else in the industry is really focusing on.”

The Expertise Behind Levenbank Distillery

Adding to their talented team, sales and development manager George Wotherspoon brings invaluable experience in establishing a successful whisky distillery. Industry veteran Jack Mayo, who has worked with Glasgow Distillery and Holyrood Distillery, is also providing guidance to ensure the team moves forward with confidence.

The distillery has already installed its custom-built copper and column stills and begun filling the first casks. Consultant distiller Jack Mayo explained their ambitious setup:

“Our custom-built copper and column stills are now installed, and we’re preparing to fill 150 to 200 casks.

“The distilling setup is designed to scale, with future capacity reaching over three times that volume, potentially delivering up to 80,000 LPA (litres of pure alcohol) with increased staffing and expanded wash-making facilities.”

Crafting a Distinct Whisky Identity

Traditionally, Scotch whisky has relied heavily on cask maturation for flavour development. However, Levenbank Distillery takes a threefold approach, giving the new-make spirit itself a more significant role in shaping the whisky’s character.

The distillery will produce three core styles of new-make spirit:

• Light, fruit-forward spirit made from locally grown Laureate barley sourced from Crisp Maltings.
• Robust and complex spirit created using darker grains such as crystal and chocolate malted barley.
• Peated spirit for those who enjoy a smoky depth in their whisky.

Over time, these foundational spirits will be blended to create Levenbank’s signature releases. The distillery also has plans for a range of single grain whiskies, including a rye expression crafted from successful beer recipes like imperial stouts, barleywines, and wee heavies.

Looking to the Future

Euan MacEachern, head distiller and company director, shared his vision for Levenbank’s whisky:

“We want our whisky to be as remarkable as our beers.

“We’re working towards a flagship unaged single malt to be released around 2030/31, with a range of peated and unpeated expressions, including single casks, leading up to our 10-year-old single malt. We also have some really exciting ideas as we experiment with adapting our award-winning beer recipes as the base for distillation.”

While the distillery will initially share space with the existing brewery, plans are already underway for a dedicated whisky distillery and visitor centre near the current site.

A Bold Step into the Whisky Industry

Levenbank Distillery represents an exciting fusion of brewing and distilling expertise, bringing a fresh and innovative approach to Lowland whisky. With a strong foundation in beer craftsmanship and a commitment to quality, the MacEacherns are set to make a lasting mark on the whisky world.

Whisky enthusiasts and beer lovers alike will be eagerly awaiting the first releases from Levenbank, as this ambitious venture blends tradition with a unique brewing influence.

At UKV International AG, we are always looking for new and exciting whiskies for our clients. We have seen many new whisky distilleries starting to produce whisky or being constructed in recent years due to the increasing demand for quality whisky. These include:

• A new whisky distillery planned in Torry near Aberdeen.
• Plans being submitted for a new distillery in Perthshire.
• North Uist Distillery starts production.

If you are a whisky enthusiast and would like to learn more about whisky investment, speak to our team of experts. We explain how it works and help you find a whisky you are passionate about.

Speak to our team today!