The former Bruichladdich and Springbank Director Gordon Wright has joined the Ardgowan team as Advisor on Commercial Development and Sales, whilst global distilling expert Professor Michael Egan has been hired to review the new plant’s process engineering design.
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| Gordon Wright and Professor Michael Egan |
Whilst at Springbank, Gordon Wright helped bring the family-owned malt whisky to a global audience, creating export sales of £1.4m in just four years. He joined Bruichladdich in 2000 and helped raise the equity to purchase the company from JBB. Gordon has subsequently created the Alchemist brand, focusing on creating unique spirits and delivering them to 15 international markets.
Professor Michael Egan began his career in Canada with the Hiram Walker Group, famous for their Canadian Club Whisky brand, and cut his teeth working at distilleries in Illinois and Ontario. He later went on to work as Director of Brewery Redevelopment for Guinness, and then onto Irish Distillers as their Process Engineer for the design of their new distillery in Midleton.
Commenting on the news, company chairman Willie Phillips, Chairman of Ardgowan Distillery, said: “I have known both Gordon and Michael for some time and together we share a passion for single malt whisky. This passion, allied to their intimate knowledge and experience of the design, manufacture and marketing of top-drawer spirits gives me confidence we will create a new lowland malt of great character.”
The new distillery and visitor centre, which will be located on the historic Ardgowan Estate, is currently in planning, with a decision expected by Inverclyde Council in the coming weeks.
Today’s news follows the recent appointment of former Macallan Managing Director, Willie Phillips as company chairman.
Posted by Steve Rush