Kingsbarns Distillery: History, Owner and Visitor Guide
Updated: 5 hours ago
Kingsbarns is a Lowland whisky and gin distillery near the golf courses of St Andrews. This guide covers its story, owner and the questions people ask most.
In this guide
Summarise this guide with AI
Kingsbarns at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Region | Lowland, Scotland |
Ownership | Wemyss family / Wemyss Malts |
History | Opened 2014 |
Whisky and production | Doocot replaced Dream to Dram; Balcomie uses sherry casks |
Named expressions | Kingsbarns Doocot, Kingsbarns Balcomie |
Visits | Verify public access, current tours and opening times with the distillery before travelling. |
Join the Kingsbarns whisky community poll
Which whiskies have you tried? What should Whisky Clan review next? Open the highlighted poll below, answer four quick questions and share your preferences with the community.
TAKE THE KINGSBARNS COMMUNITY POLL · 4 QUICK QUESTIONS
Answer four quick questions to see real reader percentages. No account or email is required.
Where is Kingsbarns Distillery?
Kingsbarns is in Kingsbarns, Fife, in the Lowlands whisky region of Scotland.
Kingsbarns history
The distillery was founded in 2014 by Douglas Clement, a former golf caddie who was inspired by visiting golfers frustrated at the lack of a nearby distillery. After securing a £670,000 grant from the Scottish Government he convinced the Wemyss family to invest between £2.5 million and £3 million.
It officially opened in November 2014 and the first casks were filled in 2015. In 2017 a gin distillery opened on site and began producing Darnley's Gin. In August 2018 Kingsbarns unveiled its first single malt, and in November 2018 it launched Balcomie, a single malt sherry cask whisky. In November 2022 the company announced expansion plans including twelve bonded warehouses and a bottling plant.
Who owns Kingsbarns?
Kingsbarns is owned by Wemyss Malts.
Production
Stills: one wash still and one spirit still.
Water source: a borehole.
Capacity: 200,000 litres a year.
Official website
The caddie, the grant and the Wemyss family
Douglas Clement, a golf caddie around St Andrews, began developing the idea of a distillery at East Newhall Farm in 2009. The Single Cask reports he raised about £100,000 from 32 small investors and won a £670,000 Scottish government grant in 2012. Wikipedia adds that the grant helped him persuade the Wemyss family to invest between £2.5 million and £3 million. The Wemyss family took over the project in 2013.
The family already ran the independent bottler Wemyss Malts, founded in 2005 by William and Isabella Wemyss. Kingsbarns opened in late 2014 and the first casks were filled in early 2015. Wikipedia says the first Kingsbarns single malt was unveiled in August 2018 and Balcomie, a sherry cask expression, followed that November.
How Kingsbarns makes its whisky
Stills: one 8,000 litre wash still and one 4,800 litre spirit still, with a high cut point.
Washbacks: four stainless steel washbacks with fermentation of three to five days.
Barley: grown within six miles of the distillery and malted by Muntons, per The Single Cask.
Water: from a borehole into a sandstone aquifer under the site.
Casks: mainly first fill ex-bourbon barrels, with a smaller share of STR casks and ex-oloroso sherry casks.
Capacity: designed for around 140,000 litres a year. The Single Cask says output is now near 300,000 litres, while Wikipedia gives 200,000 litres.
The range
The Single Cask says the retired Dream to Dram flagship has given way to Doocot, launched in 2023 at 46% ABV from 90% ex-bourbon and 10% STR casks. Balcomie is matured in ex-oloroso sherry casks and Bell Rock appeared as a limited release. The official site now also lists limited editions and single casks, plus Wemyss Malts and Darnley's Gin collections.
Gin, expansion and private casks
Darnley's Gin has been distilled on site since 2017, with a Gin School visitor experience. In November 2022 Wemyss announced twelve new bonded warehouses and a bottling plant, and in December 2022 plans to enter the United States market (Wikipedia). Kingsbarns runs a private cask programme for private buyers and keeps first right of refusal on resale, according to The Single Cask.
Visiting Kingsbarns
The official site says the distillery is open seven days a week, with whisky and gin experiences, a cafe and shop, private hire and a Founders' Club. Book through kingsbarnsdistillery.com.
Sources
What makes Kingsbarns distinctive?
Doocot replaced Dream to Dram; Balcomie uses sherry casks
Kingsbarns whisky bottle and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Documented producer expression |
|---|---|---|---|
Kingsbarns Doocot | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Kingsbarns Balcomie | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Kingsbarns Coaltown | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Producer and release sources document these expressions. Historical bottles may be out of production or unavailable. Bottled sourced or blended whiskey is not always entirely distilled at this site.
This compares documented expressions, not live shop stock. Strength, age, casks and availability can vary by release; check the producer's bottle information.
More distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Kingsbarns
Where is Kingsbarns distillery?
In Kingsbarns, Fife.
Who founded Kingsbarns?
Douglas Clement, a former golf caddie.
Who owns Kingsbarns?
Wemyss Malts.
When did it open?
In November 2014.
Does it make gin?
Yes. Darnley's Gin has been made on site since 2017.
Sources and editorial checks
Original historical research and source notes are preserved in this guide. Producer details, distillery access and releases may change.
Help us improve this distillery guide
Know something we should add or correct about Kingsbarns Distillery? Share verified facts, bottle releases, awards or useful sources using the form below. Newsletter subscription is optional.
If the embedded form does not display, Open the contribution form in a new tab.
Whisky producer and release source: https://www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com/collections/core-collection
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. |
Comments