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The team behind independent whisky bottler Living Souls has announced the launch of Drummygar Distillery, a bold new venture in Angus that combines traditional farming and modern craftsmanship.

Led by John Torrance, whose quarter-century of distilling experience spans Diageo, Douglas Laing and Living Souls, the distillery project is a labour of love with a true “farm to glass” ethos.

One-time young distiller of the year Zak Shenfield, formerly of Strathearn Distillery and BrewDog, has been appointed operations director and head distiller.

Production at Drummygar commenced in August, marking the start of a long-term journey to craft a signature house style, with the distilleries maiden whiskies expected in eight to 12 years’ time.

Notably, the small working Drummygar farm uses heritage Chevallier barley sustainably tended by Clydesdale horses.

Feted for its rich, malty character, Chevallier was the dominant barley in British whisky production throughout the 19th century, before falling out of favour due to changes in tax rules.

Located near Arbroath, the distillery’s equipment includes a traditional manual mash tun, three 1,000-litre copper alembic stills, and four 2,000L fermenters, the better to create a medium-to-heavy spirit suitable for extended ageing.

Casks – primarily first-fill bourbon, supported by sherry, wine and specialist varieties – will be actively managed to ensure a balanced flavour profile, with a year-one production anticipated to reach 30,000 litres of pure alcohol (LPA).

“At Drummygar our watchwords are patience, quality and tradition; the last thing we want to do is rush things and compromise the quality of the spirit,” says John.

“Using Chevallier barley and Clydesdales isn’t a gimmick, we’re keen to honour the rich tradition of whisky production while cultivating a recognisable style that shines through in every vintage.”

“As John says, it’s about quality over haste,” added Zak, who at 22 was named Scotland’s Young Distiller of the Year in 2016.

“We’re confident that with small stills and quality local barley, we can produce a spirit that speaks for itself.”

In addition to Torrance and Shenfield, Drummygar draws on the experience of his Living Souls co-founders Calum Leslie and Jamie Williamson, both of whom are experienced figures in the Scotch whisky world.  While Calum was previously head of innovation at Loch Lomond Group, Jamie enjoyed stints at Old Curiosity Distillery and Douglas Laing before starting his own spirits distributor, Kilninian Drinks Co.

Although the first Drummygar whiskies will not hit shelves for several years, the distillery’s connection to Living Souls confers instant credibility, and expectations for the maiden vintage are likely to be high.

This article appeared in The Courier on 30 September 2025