Owners of Bladnoch whisky distillery go into liquidation

By Erin Smith

Published: 19 March, 2014

Scotland's most southerly distillery Bladnoch is up for sale as a going concern following news that its parent company has entered administration.

The distillery announced last week that Co-Ordinated Development Services, its Northern Irish based parent firm, has officially started liquidation procedures.

The website has posted the following notice: "Joseph Luke Charleton of Ernst & Young was appointed official liquidator of Co-Ordinated Development Services, the company which operates Bladnoch Distillery, on 10 March 2014. The liquidator is currently assessing the business and its assets with the view to selling the business as a going concern."

A going concern is a business that functions without the threat of liquidation for the foreseeable future, typically at least 12 months, and the business will continue to run its normal day to day business in the interim. The hope is that the parent firm will manage to sell the distillery and keep its doors open and retain its 10 employees.

The distillery is located in the remote area of Galloway near Wigtown and has been producing the "Spirit of the Lowlands" since 1817. Businessman Raymond Armstrong bought the whisky distillery in 1994 from United Distillers and spent five years renovating the site. In 2000 Armstrong recommenced the production of Bladnoch lowlands malt whisky.

The distillery has an on-site visitor centre where visitors can take guided tours and experience the whisky-making process.

Printer friendly version