Lindores Abbey Distillery Q&A with Gary HaggartDistillery Manager

Lindores Abbey Distillery

In this exclusive Q&A, Gary Haggart, Distillery Manager of Lindores Abbey Distillery, shares insights into the whisky-making process, the distillery’s historical significance, and what visitors can expect during their visit.

Lindores Abbey Distillery has a rich historical significance as the spiritual home of Scotch whisky. Can you tell us about the journey that led to the revival of whisky-making at Lindores and how the distillery was brought to life?

Obviously, we have the late, great Michael Jackson to thank for his book, ‘Scotland and Its Whiskies’, with its immortal line ‘To the whisky lover, it is a pilgrimage’, in relation to Lindores Abbey.

The whisky industry is a wonderful thing, and we were encouraged from the very beginning of our journey by the people who believed and assisted us in making Lindores Abbey Distillery a reality. Once funds were in place, the team that we chose to build and fit out the distillery were exceptional. We knew that Lindores, with its important Scotch whisky story, would be scrutinised and so we needed to use the best in the business, they are too many to name here, but Dr Jim Swan, 3B Construction, Organic Architects, Forsyths and Bright 3D are just some, and the result was a beautiful distillery fitted to make beautiful spirit.

The residents of the town of Newburgh were also supportive, with not a single objection placed at the planning stages. It’s always heartwarming when you hear locals refer to ‘our distillery’, and Drew and I are so happy to have been able to put the Abbey well and truly on the map. Our founder’s great-grandfather and grandfather were benefactors to the town, and we relish the opportunity to continue that tradition. It’s an honour to be able to play our part in the local community, as employers naturally, but also in less obvious ways which have a more personal impact on day-to-day life in the surrounding area.

We are also lucky to be surrounded by a very strong and loyal team, many of whom joined us 7 years ago and have grown with us on the journey, we are very appreciative of the skill and loyalty they show and for their support when it’s not all plain sailing!

Lindores Abbey is steeped in history, but its approach to whisky-making is both innovative and respectful of tradition. What sets Lindores Abbey’s production methods and flavour profiles apart from other distilleries?

Finding a method that both produces exceptional spirit but also honours our rich heritage and those who paved the way for us. We start by using local malt from the area over which the monks at Lindores Abbey had stewardship. This land provided for them all those years ago, and still provides the barley for our malt today. Next, we use a specific vorlauf method to clarify our worts which leads to a reduced spice and grain character, but an increase in fruity character – the DNA of Lindores! We also do a few things to increase the complexity of our spirit character. Firstly, we operate a longer length fermentation to really elevate ester and congener levels within the spirit. Secondly, we run sister spirit stills which provides increased copper contact over a process that uses one larger spirit still and helps contribute to the smooth, clean character of our spirit. We also always use a high percentage of fresh casks, in fact, our MCDXCIV uses only fresh casks, but we also source casks of exceptional quality for our other bottlings.

What really completes our spirit is our people. We can train people, we can support them in learning skills to enable them to be successful, but you can’t train passion or enthusiasm, and that is what we look for in every member of our team. Every person who works at Lindores is passionate about
making the best single malt scotch whisky that we can, and that contributes heavily to the bottles that land on shelves worldwide.

In short, to make the best whisky, you need the best people, the best spirit and the best casks – we’re lucky enough to have all three!

Sustainability is an important aspect of modern whisky production. How does Lindores Abbey Distillery incorporate eco-friendly practices, and do you have any long-term goals for sustainability?

Sustainability is indeed a crucial element in modern whisky production, and Lindores Abbey Distillery has integrated several eco-friendly practices into its operations. Currently, the distillery repurposes draff, a by-product of whisky production, as cattle feed, effectively reducing waste and supporting local agriculture. Additionally, Lindores Abbey employs a closed-loop system for its condenser waters, which prevents hot water from contaminating the environment. We also take a sustainable approach to effluent management as our pot ales are taken by a local farmer for use on fields within 10 miles of the distillery.

In terms of sourcing raw materials, Lindores Abbey minimizes its carbon footprint by using locally grown barley (grown by Drew’s cousins within half a mile from the distillery), which is then malted nearby in Alloa, resulting in a mere 90-mile round trip for these essential ingredients.

On a consumer basis – the distillery also avoids providing secondary packaging for its products, and any packaging materials used are fully recyclable or biodegradable.

Looking to the future, we are committed to further enhancing our sustainability practices, in particular through the preservation of our beautiful surroundings. Whether that is by ensuring minimal impact and sustainable use of the rolling hills and fields of Fife that we are so lucky to call home, or through the upkeep of the ancient abbey walls we have on site – we are determined that Lindores will be a place that is enjoyed for generations.

Are there any upcoming releases or special projects at Lindores Abbey that you’re particularly excited about?

On the 12th September, THIRON will land on shelves in our visitor centre, across the UK and be available to buy online (it will also be hitting shelves worldwide from October onwards!). This release is an incredibly special one for us, it marks the start of a series of annual releases that celebrates the true Lindores Spirit, encapsulating our rich history, our wonderful people and our award-winning spirit.

This bottle celebrates our centuries-old ties to the Abbey and French village of Thiron-Gardais and we’ve ventured back to our roots to bring forth scotch whisky that embodies the legacy of the Tironensian monks who laid down the spiritual foundations of Scotch Whisky.

Thiron Single Malt Scotch Whisky has been nurtured in virgin oak casks hewn from the same lands that connect Thiron Abbey and Lindores Abbey across centuries. The use of bourbon and red wine barriques casks with the French virgin oak has yielded a whisky of unparalleled character.

Thiron is imbued with rich flavours of vanilla and roasted banana, complemented by the warm essence of cinnamon and baking spices. This unique combination enhances the mellow notes of vanilla and caramel, as well as the fruity undertones and layers of roast chestnuts. The result is a
finely balanced and complex whisky, with a delightful finish and the smooth, silky texture characteristic of Lindores whisky. It is bottled onsite at our unique strength of 49.4% ABV. Natural colour and non-chill filtered.

This really is not a release to be missed, having already attracted attention from whisky lovers and stockists worldwide, I wouldn’t wait to purchase as I don’t think this bottle will be available for long!

Given Lindores Abbey’s unique position in the whisky industry, how do you see the future of the distillery and the whisky industry as a whole? Are there any trends or innovations that you’re watching closely?

As far as sustainability is concerned, one of the trends that we are following closely is the move towards more sustainable power solutions, such as biomass and hydrogen.

Our production team are investigating the use of mechanical vapor recompression (MVR), which is an energy recovery process which can be used to recycle waste heat to improve efficiency.

Just like the Monks in the past, we have been lucky to have many innovators within the Lindores team and I have no doubt that we will be trailblazing new and innovative processes in the very near future.
The future of the whisky industry?

It’s a tricky question! If only we had a crystal ball. There is no denying that the demands from the consumer and the market are changing, but I think there will always be a home for a good quality honest whisky.

If you would like to find out more about Lindores Abbey Distillery or would be interested in purchasing one of their bottles you can visit their website here

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