Plans approved to transform historic walled garden into landmark distillery

Now, here’s something that’s got me genuinely excited—we’re seeing another piece of Scotland’s whisky puzzle slot back into place, and this one’s got some serious pedigree behind it.

Stirling Council has just given the green light to what sounds like a cracking project at Auchenbowie, near Bannockburn. Organic Architects – and if you know anything about sustainable distillery design, you’ll know these folks – are developing a small-scale private distillery in the most atmospheric setting you could imagine: a derelict walled garden attached to A-listed Auchenbowie House.

The history alone would make your head spin. We’re talking about a house that once sheltered a 17th century laird who had to flee the country after a fatal duel – proper Scottish drama, that. But here’s where it gets interesting for us whisky folk: Burns himself visited in 1787 and thought enough of it to note it in his journal. And get this – Churchill apparently wrote part of *The Great War* while staying there as a guest.

What’s really caught my attention is the design approach. They’re not just plonking down some industrial sheds. The distillery buildings are being designed to sit within those historic garden walls like Victorian glasshouses – there’s even a glass house at the heart of it all overlooking a water garden that’ll double as a cooling system for distillation. That’s the kind of thoughtful integration you love to see.

They’re planning an organic garden within the walls too, which will supply botanicals for production – smart thinking, especially given the sustainable angle Organic Architects are known for.

This is a multi-million pound investment that should create fifteen direct jobs, with the usual ripple effects through agriculture, logistics, and hospitality. Construction kicks off in 2026, with spirit production starting in 2027.

What’s particularly satisfying about this is seeing Central Scotland reclaim its whisky heritage. This region was absolutely fundamental to the early story of Scotch, and projects like Auchenbowie are bringing that tradition back to life in exactly the right way – respecting the past while building something genuinely relevant for today.