In its first year of release, the second whisky in the Clydebuilt Series has followed in the footsteps of multi-award-winning Coppersmith, winning multiple medals from various panels of expert judges.

The top spirits in each category of the Masters are awarded the Master Medal, this year given to only fourteen winners. Inclusion in this select group demonstrates Ardgowan’s commitment to blending and bottling only the finest whiskies for our valued customers to enjoy.

Created by Max McFarlane, Ardgowan’s Master Whisky Maker, the sumptuous dram is a blend of four distinctive malts from Highland and Speyside distilleries, wholly matured in first fill Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 48% ABV.

On the nose, it brings warm aromas that come in waves recalling the precious cargoes of the East with scents of marzipan, leather, Ceylon tea, dried spices, tobacco, and sandalwood. On the palate, the journey continues with bright complexities of orange peel and rich dark notes of black cherries and treacle as they come to the fore. Shipwright then settles gently, dry at first, then gliding into lingering spicy notes with hints of an old leather armchair.

Our distillery CEO Martin McAdam said: “We are a relatively new company. But we’ve learned from great people. Our former chairman Willie Phillips and our whisky maker Max McFarlane both insist that everything we put in a bottle has to be of extraordinary quality. Winning the Scotch Whisky Masters is so important to us, it justifies the extraordinary effort we make in terms of selecting casks and making the perfect blended malt scotch whisky. The leadership from Max and our young team of Nicola Campbell and Lisa Matthews is so important as we have experience and young talent combined – the result is in the bottle.”

Shipwright is available to buy online individually, or as part of the Clydebuilt Collection.

The Clydebuilt Collection offers the chance to secure all six bottles in the Clydebuilt series, alongside other Collector benefits. With the exception of some bottles held back for the Distillery opening, it is now the only way to purchase sold-out Coppersmith, with future releases being sent to you with free shipping and in advance of release to the public. The third whisky in the series is due for release this summer.