The People behind the
The real story of Littlemill Distillery begins over two centuries ago. In 1750 Archibald Buchanan purchased Auchentorlie Estate, just a few miles west of Loch Lomond on the bankds of the River Clyde, from his brother Andrew. And with it, a brewery called Littlemill.
Master Blender, Michael Henry joined the Loch Lomond Group in 2007 after perfecting his craft in both brewing and distilling in Belfast and Glasgow. Michael is now responsible for blending whiskies across the diverse group portfolio, giving Michael a unique perspective and ability to hand select the best casks. It is due to this that Michael is now responsible for safeguarding the last of the Littlemill liquid, preserving the distillery style and character ensuring the legacy of this wonderful distillery lives on in each expression.c
Up until its final days, Littlemill Distillery continued to innovate and produce exceptional Lowland malt whisky of great character. Using water sourced north of the Highland line in the Kilpatrick Hills, peat from Stornoway and malt from Perthshire, the Littlemill whiskies reflect a beautiful summer whisky, whose characteristics reveal gentle vanilla and floral notes on the nose with the sweetness of honey and creamy fudge which continues onto the palate with classic Lowland fruit flavours.
In the 15th century, a staple drink for many people was beer, with the brewery on the grounds of Auchentorlie supplying amongst others, the monks of nearby Paisley Abbey. Archibald & George Buchanan had their eye on making something infinitely more complex and significantly more valuable.
History tells us they went on to do so in some measure and with very great success, establishing Scotland’s first and oldest licensed whisky distillery in 1772.
That same year accommodation was also built next door to the distillery to house the Excise officers who represented the law - and ensured any distillation was duly recorded and relevant taxes calculated. This suggests that something was already afoot onsite some time before 1772 (indeed, in a less than official capacity, the brewery, which was attached to Dunglass Castle nearby, may well have been distilling liquor as early as the 14th century).
We’d Love to Hear Your Littlemill Story
Littlemill’s story continues through the memories and voices of those who lived it. If you worked at the distillery, knew someone who did, or simply have a connection through the whisky, we’d be honoured to hear about it. Even after the fire, our passion for Littlemill lives on in these stories.
Please share your memories with us—whether a fond anecdote, a family link, or photos of your bottle or memorabilia. Our team receives each message with deep respect and gratitude.
Fill in the form below or contact us directly at heritage@littlemilldistillery.com (please quote “Your Littlemill Story” in the subject).
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Your privacy matters — any stories shared will be treated with sensitivity. You can choose whether you’d like your contribution to be anonymous, or how you'd like to be credited (name, initial, “former employee,” etc.). We won’t share details without permission.
Loch Lomond Distillery, Lomond Estate, Alexandria, Scotland G83 0TL
Tel:+44 (0) 1389 752 781 | enquiries@littlemilldistillery.com