Dál Riata Distillery Breaks Ground, Reviving Campbeltown’s Whisky Legacy

Here’s something that should get whisky folk excited—Campbeltown’s getting another distillery, and it’s not just some modest craft operation either.

You know the story: the “Whisky Metropolis” had over 30 distilleries back in the day, all thanks to that natural harbour, coal access, and being nicely positioned for Glasgow’s blending houses. Then Prohibition hit, tastes shifted, the Great War messed everything up economically, and by the 1930s they were down to just two survivors. Brutal decline.

Fast forward to 2021, and two blokes – Ronnie Grant and Iain Croucher – are wandering past the old Kinloch Distillery site near the esplanade. Classic story really: they spot the perfect plot, fall in love with it, and within a year they’ve bought it. Got to love that kind of conviction.

The paperwork dance took its sweet time, as it always does. Planning permission came through in 2023, but getting those building warrants? Well, as they put it, that’s like maturing a fine malt – takes a wee while longer. Finally, on June 5th this year, Argyll & Bute Council gave them the green light.

They’re calling it Dál Riata Distillery – lovely historical nod to that 6th and 7th century kingdom that covered all of Argyll, including Islay, Jura, Mull, the lot. Even had a chunk of north-eastern Ireland in there.

What’s really interesting is the scale they’re planning. We’re talking 850,000 litres of pure alcohol annually, plus their own bottling operation and serious warehousing. Croucher’s got form here too – he’s behind North Star Spirits, which has picked up Independent Scotch Whisky Bottler of the Year three times.

Both of them are proper Campbeltown converts. Grant reckons there’s no better whisky town in Scotland, while Croucher holidays there twice yearly with the family and calls it his favourite Scotch whisky region.

Construction’s meant to kick off before year-end, so we’re looking at another chapter opening in Campbeltown’s remarkable comeback story. About time too.