Wemyss Distillery Ltd. Profile

Wemyss Distillery Ltd. is the parent company for The Kingsbarns Company of Distillers, which runs the Kingsbarns distillery in Fife.

While the company is owned outright by the Wemyss family, it is operated as a separate business to their existing independent bottling operation Wemyss Malts.

It was established by William Wemyss in 2013 to purchase the Kingsbarns distillery project from then-owner Douglas Clement.

Wemyss Distillery Ltd. History

Although the Wemyss family has historical links with Scotch whisky dating back to the early 19th century, when John Haig leased land from Captain Wemyss to build Cameronbridge distillery, their first hands-on experience with Scotch came many years later.

Having worked extensively in the wine trade – the family owns two vineyards in Australia and Provence, France – William Wemyss set out to establish roots in the whisky industry and founded independent bottling company Wemyss Malts in 2005.

The company’s range of whiskies grew to include several non-age-statement expressions including Peat Chimney, Spice King and Velvet Fig.

By 2013 the efforts of Douglas Clement to build a malt distillery at Kingsbarns caught Wemyss’ eye. Despite interest from investors around the world, Clement was struggling to raise the funds needed to begin building the distillery. Wemyss stepped in and purchased the project – including its operating company The Kingsbarns Company of Distillers – from Clement. He established Wemyss Distillery Ltd. as a separate company to Wemyss Malts, to continue the build with Clements by his side as founding director.

In 2015 Kingbarns distillery began producing spirit and is expected to release its first single malt in mid-2018.

Clements remained on as a director and visitor centre manager, but left the business at the end of 2016 to ‘pursue other projects’. 

Contact

Address
Wemyss Distillery Ltd.
4 Melville Crescent
Edinburgh
EH3 7JA
United Kingdom
Phone
+44 131 226 3445
Map

See also

  • Arthur Bell & Sons Arthur Bell & Sons Arthur Bell & Sons Blender

    Arthur Bell & Sons

    Once one of the great independent whisky producers of Scotland.

  • John Haig & Company John Haig & Company John Haig & Company Distiller & blender

    John Haig & Company

    Distilling dynasty best known for its early adoption of the patent still at Cameronbridge.

  • William Sanderson & Son William Sanderson & Son William Sanderson & Son Distiller & blender

    William Sanderson & Son

    Leith-based whisky blender most famous for its Vat 69 blend.

  • Bulloch Lade & Company Bulloch Lade & Company Bulloch Lade & Company Distiller & blender

    Bulloch Lade & Company

    An independent distiller and blender that once operated Caol Ila and Tamdhu distilleries.

Scroll To Top