BrewDog Distilling Co.
About the distillery
BrewDog Distilling Co. is located in Ellon in Aberdeenshire and is the spirit-producing part of the BrewDog universe. Here, work is carried out from the ground up with grain, fermentation, and distillation, and the facility is built to make several different spirits. It’s a distillery with a clear technical ambition, characterized by an uncompromising and playful approach—one that is also reflected in the many gin releases.
History
The story begins with two friends, Martin Dickie and James Watt, who brewed beer in a garage and sold it at farmer’s markets. What started as a small experiment grew into a craft beer phenomenon. In 2017, the founders chose to expand into spirits and create BrewDog Distilling Co. with the same rebel spirit as the rest of the company. The original distillery was in the same building as the brewery, but was later moved to a purpose-built facility on the brewery’s premises in Ellon. Here, production could be brought together in one place, allowing the team to control the process themselves—from raw material to finished distillate. Along the way, Master Distiller Steven Kersley has led the development of the distillery’s spirits.
Ingredients and production
Production starts with grain, with both wheat and barley included, mashed in the distillery’s own mill, after which the wort ferments and is distilled into base spirit. So it’s truly from scratch, and the distillery itself describes the process as full ownership of the spirit from start to finish. The setup is equipped to handle multiple spirits and uses, among other things, a three-headed bubble still as well as one of the highest reflux columns in the UK at nearly 60 feet. The combination of equipment points to a production where precision, purity, and flexibility in the distillate can be worked with. The distillery also mentions that they can create grain neutral spirit in-house and tailor it before it’s used further in production. That makes the site technically interesting, because it’s not just a bottling location, but a fully operating distillery with a clear from-scratch approach.
Whiskies
The documented range in the material is gin-based and spans from the classic LoneWolf Original Juniper Gin to more aromatic varieties such as Cactus & Lime, Bramble & Raspberry, Peach & Passion Fruit, and the more technical Zealot’s Heart. What they all share is a clear, juniper-driven style, but the expressions move from citrus and florals to spice, berries, and a light touch of smoke. The range shows a distillery that works broadly with flavor building and botanical contrasts rather than with a single signature profile.
Whisky style and flavor profile
The style centers on juniper, but is quickly lifted by citrus, floral details, and spice. LoneWolf Original Juniper Gin works with citrus, earth, and spice, while Cactus & Lime gives a more fruit-forward character with lime, watermelon, and lychee. Bramble & Raspberry lean toward fresh red berries, and Peach & Passion Fruit move in a sweeter, more exotic direction with yuzu and citrus. Zealot’s Heart adds a more dry, spiced London Dry profile to the picture. Taken as a whole, it’s a series where juniper never stands alone, but is constantly built up from clear botanical layers.
Visiting the distillery
There is no public booking access to the distillery. On site there is a café, bar, and shop, but no tours or gin school are listed as available. For visitors, that means the facility first and foremost appears as a production site rather than a proper visitor center. The address is Balmacassie Industrial Estate, Balmacassie Drive, Ellon, Aberdeenshire, AB41 8BX.
Philosophy and craftsmanship
BrewDog Distilling Co. is built on a declared idea of innovation and rebellion. At the same time, there’s a clear craftsmanship ideal of doing everything from scratch and being responsible for each spirit throughout the entire process. That gives the production a precise, controlled feel, but also room to adjust and develop new expressions on an ongoing basis.