Girvan Distillery: History, Owner and Grain Whisky Guide
Updated: 4 hours ago
Girvan is one of the largest whisky making facilities in Scotland and a major grain distillery. This guide covers its history, owner and the questions people ask most.
In this guide
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Girvan at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Producer / distillery | Girvan |
Location | Lowland, Scotland |
Ownership | William Grant & Sons |
History / origin | Girvan was built in 1963, when its first Coffey still was installed, celebrated with a first official bottling. William Grant and Sons built it after a quarrel between the Grant family and the… |
Whisky characteristics | Scotch grain whisky made primarily for blends and some single grain bottles |
Visiting | Consult current official visitor information; not every distillery is open to tours. |
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Where is Girvan Distillery?
Girvan is in South Ayrshire, Scotland, and is named after the town of Girvan.
Girvan history
Girvan was built in 1963, when its first Coffey still was installed, celebrated with a first official bottling. William Grant and Sons built it after a quarrel between the Grant family and the Distillers Company Limited. Under Charles Grant Gordon it was built and producing alcohol within nine months of breaking ground.
Girvan contributes to Grant's and Clan MacGregor blended whisky. The company introduced its export single grain whisky, Black Barrel, in 1985 for the Portugal, Spain and Italy markets. Ladyburn, a single malt distillery on the site, operated from 1965 to 1975 and was demolished in 1976. The distillery also produces Hendrick's Gin.
Who owns Girvan?
Girvan is owned by William Grant and Sons. It is described as one of the most energy efficient distilleries in Scotland.
Girvan facts
Capacity: 115 million litres a year.
Grain type: wheat, with 8.5% malted barley.
Cook time: 45 minutes. Fermentation time: 60 hours.
Distillation system: multi-pressure.
New make strength: 94.5%.
Water source: River Girvan.
Official website
Built in nine months after a falling out
ScotchWhisky.com's Whiskypedia tells the story of how William Grant and Sons came to build Girvan. After a dispute with the Distillers Company Limited, its grain supplier, the family built its own grain distillery from scratch. According to legend the row followed a TV ad for the Standfast brand. The Single Cask tells it as DCL refusing to increase Grant's grain allocation. Either way, the site on the Clyde coast was chosen for its size and for council support for large scale investment.
In 1963, under the young Charles Grant Gordon, the distillery was built, commissioned and in production within nine months. Whiskypedia says the first spirit ran on Christmas Day, echoing William Grant at Glenfiddich. The same year saw the launch of Glenfiddich Pure Malt.
How Girvan makes its whisky
Grain: wheat, with 8.5% malted barley.
Fermentation: 60 hours, with a 45 minute cook.
Distillation: Whiskypedia describes a multi-pressure system of six columns. In 1995 the original Coffey stills were replaced with a multiple column vacuum still set-up.
New make: 94.5% strength, filled into cask at 69%, 74% or 80%.
Water: the River Girvan.
Capacity: about 115 million litres of pure alcohol a year.
Blends supplied: Grant's and Clan MacGregor.
The site around it
The Ladyburn malt distillery ran on the same complex between 1965 and 1975 per Whiskypedia, and 1966 to 1975 per The Single Cask. Today the site also holds the Ailsa Bay malt distillery and the Hendrick's gin plant. Whiskypedia says the site is not open to the public.
Girvan as a single grain
William Grant and Sons launched Black Barrel single grain in 1985, but Whiskypedia says it was withdrawn. In 2014 the company tried again with a range at several age statements under the name Girvan Patent Still. The Single Cask adds that independent bottlers such as Duncan Taylor and Hart Brothers have released Girvan regularly.
Girvan FAQ
Where is Girvan distillery?
In South Ayrshire, Scotland.
Who owns Girvan?
William Grant and Sons.
When was Girvan built?
In 1963.
What does Girvan make?
Grain whisky, which contributes to Grant's and Clan MacGregor blends, and Hendrick's Gin.
What grain does it use?
Wheat, along with 8.5% malted barley.
Further sources checked and gaps
Further sources checked: ScotchWhisky.com Whiskypedia Girvan entry (loaded), The Single Cask Girvan guide (loaded). No official Girvan page exists beyond the William Grant and Sons site, which was not reloaded. Whisky Advocate and Whiskybase were not tried.
Gaps and conflicts to check before publishing: Whiskypedia says Coffey stills were replaced in 1995 by a multiple column vacuum set-up, while The Single Cask still describes Coffey stills from 1963. The 1985 Black Barrel launch is described as European markets only by The Single Cask and as withdrawn by Whiskypedia. The cause of the 1962 dispute differs by source. No ABVs for current Girvan Patent Still bottlings were verified.
Photo credit
Cover photo: Grant's Distillery, Girvan, via Wikimedia Commons (geograph.org.uk), used under a Creative Commons licence.
Sources
What makes Girvan distinctive?
Scotch grain whisky made primarily for blends and some single grain bottles
Girvan whisky bottles and expression comparison
These are producer- or archive-documented expressions; historical editions are not current stock guarantees.
Rare and historic whisky releases
A closed distillery or a past limited batch cannot be assumed to be still producing this whisky.
Bottle or expression | Age or release | ABV | Verified context |
|---|---|---|---|
Girvan Patent Still 25 Year Old | 25 years | 42% | Official grain whisky |
Girvan Patent Still 28 Year Old | 28 years | 42% | Historical distillery release |
Girvan Patent Still 30 Year Old | 30 years | 42% | Historical distillery release |
Girvan Patent Still No.4 Apps | NAS | 42% | Single grain whisky |
Named expressions include historic or limited releases and do not guarantee current availability, strength or specifications. Check the producer's labels.
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Frequently asked questions about Girvan
Where is Girvan located?
Lowland, Scotland.
Who owns or operates Girvan?
William Grant & Sons.
What is distinctive about Girvan?
Scotch grain whisky made primarily for blends and some single grain bottles
What whisky is associated with Girvan?
The Girvan Patent Still 25 Year Old (historical). Current availability must be checked.
Can you tour Girvan?
Please check the producer's current visitor information; not all locations welcome visitors.
Sources and editorial checks
Existing history and sources are retained above. Ownership, operating status, bottlings and tours may change.
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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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