Ailsa Bay Distillery: History, Owner and Guide
Updated: 4 hours ago
Ailsa Bay is a malt whisky distillery in South Ayrshire, built by William Grant and Sons beside its Girvan site. This guide covers its history, owner and the questions people ask most.
In this guide
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Ailsa Bay at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery / brand | Ailsa Bay |
Whisky region | Lowland, Scotland |
Ownership (October 2026) | William Grant & Sons |
History | Work began in 2007; the modern malt distillery opened in 2009. |
Expressions to explore | Ailsa Bay Sweet Smoke and Ailsa Bay 1.2 Sweet Smoke |
Visiting / editorial note | Ailsa Bay is not open to the public. Its address is Grangestone Industrial Estate, Girvan, KA26 9PT. |
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Where is Ailsa Bay Distillery?
Ailsa Bay is in South Ayrshire, Scotland, in the Lowland whisky region, near the Girvan distillery.
Ailsa Bay history
William Grant and Sons built Ailsa Bay to meet its needs for malt whisky for its blended whiskies. It was officially founded in 2007, and Prince Charles attended the opening in 2009.
In March 2019 Ailsa Bay released a new whisky brand protected with blockchain technology to prevent counterfeiting. In September 2019 it released Aerstone, a single malt that William Grant and Sons says is aimed at new whisky drinkers who find established single malts such as Glenfiddich and The Balvenie too complex.
Who owns Ailsa Bay?
Ailsa Bay is owned by William Grant and Sons.
Production
Stills: eight wash stills and eight spirit stills.
Water source: Penwapple reservoir.
Capacity: 12,000,000 litres.
Official website
Why William Grant and Sons built Ailsa Bay
ScotchWhisky.com's Whiskypedia places Ailsa Bay in the Lowlands on the Clyde coast, looking toward Ailsa Craig, Kintyre and Arran. William Grant and Sons built it in 2007 on the Girvan site where the Ladyburn malt distillery once stood. The Grant's blends were growing and so was demand for Glenfiddich and The Balvenie, and pressure on Balvenie malt was the main reason for building it.
Whiskypedia notes a long history of malt distilleries inside grain plants, including Inverleven at Dumbarton, Ben Wyvis at Invergordon, Glen Flager and Killyloch at Garnheath, and Ladyburn at Girvan. Most closed when demand dipped. Ailsa Bay was built for a different reason and is still working.
How Ailsa Bay makes its whisky
Stills: eight wash and eight spirit stills (16 in all), onion shaped with a boil ball, shaped like the stills at The Balvenie. Each is 12,000 litres.
Washbacks: 24 stainless steel washbacks of 50,000 litres, with 60 hour fermentation.
Mash: lauter mash tun, 12 tonne grist, liquid yeast.
New make: 70% strength, with phenol levels between 5 and 22ppm. Filling strength is 63.5%.
Water: Penwhapple Reservoir.
Condensers: four stainless steel shell and tube.
Capacity: 12 million litres a year in Whiskypedia's facts table, although its history text says 5 million litres.
Four styles from one site
The distillery was built to replace Balvenie style malt for Grant's blends and to offer other flavour options. It makes four characters of spirit: estery, nutty, fruity and heavily peated. Whiskypedia says only about 4% of output goes to single malt.
First single malt
After eight years of production, Ailsa Bay's first official bottling was a no age statement, heavily peated single malt released in February 2016. It used the site's flexibility in cut points, vatting, maturation and sweetness measurement. The existing draft also notes the Aerstone single malt, released in September 2019.
Visiting
Ailsa Bay is not open to the public. Its address is Grangestone Industrial Estate, Girvan, KA26 9PT.
Sources
Ailsa Bay bottle range and expression comparison
Whisky Clan records these documented expressions for comparison. A historic or special edition is not necessarily available to purchase today.
Bottle or expression | Age or release | ABV | Producer information |
|---|---|---|---|
Ailsa Bay Sweet Smoke | NAS | Check label | Sweet and smoky single malt |
Limited and historic whisky expressions
Special and independently bottled whiskies can have different production origins from the regular distillery range.
Bottle or expression | Age or release | ABV | Producer information |
|---|---|---|---|
Ailsa Bay 1.2 Sweet Smoke | NAS | 48.9% | Numbered expression |
Bottle releases and visitor arrangements change over time; see original research and official sources.
More whisky distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Ailsa Bay
Where is Ailsa Bay distillery?
In South Ayrshire, Scotland.
Who owns Ailsa Bay?
William Grant and Sons.
When did it open?
It was founded in 2007 and opened in 2009.
What is Aerstone?
A single malt released in September 2019 by William Grant and Sons.
Why was it built?
To supply malt whisky for William Grant and Sons blends.
Sources and latest checks
Whisky Clan has retained the original researched history and source notes above. The comparison table lists documented expressions, not guaranteed current stock. Please check the producer's current bottle labels for strength, cask details and availability.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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