Sam Heughan, actor, philanthropist, and founder of The Sassenach Spirits, has announced the opening of The Galloway Distillery in his hometown of Galloway, Scotland.
The new site was founded by Heughan and business partner Alex Norouzi and will serve as the brand home for The Sassenach, while also acquiring the local Hills & Harbour brand, where The Sassenach Gin is produced. The distillery team plans to expand its visitor offering over the next 12 to 14 months to establish it as a major destination in southern Scotland.
A Homecoming for The Sassenach Brand
“Galloway is an inspirational place. It has unique heritage, folklore, landscapes, and people. Very accessible yet remains an undiscovered and ancient land,” said Heughan. “I created the Galloway Distillery to return to my roots and give back to the land where I was born. My purpose is to shine a light on this unsung corner of Scotland, that has so much to offer. This represents a true homecoming and new chapter, in the pursuit of fine Scottish spirits from this undiscovered and exceptional land, in the south of Scotland.”
The distillery represents the culmination of a journey that began with the launch of The Sassenach blended scotch whisky in 2021, followed by The Sassenach Wild Scottish Gin in 2023.
Expanding Visitor Experiences and Regional Tourism
“The Galloway region is one of Scotland’s undisputed gems, that blends natural beauty, rich history, and warm hospitality,” said Norouzi. “For visitors, it offers the perfect start to explore the gateway to Scotland.” The new distillery aims to become both a production hub and a tourism draw for the region, combining spirits innovation with visitor engagement.
Commitment to Sustainable Production
The Galloway Distillery is designed with a focus on sustainability and efficiency, featuring a net zero approach to production. Powered by renewable energy and incorporating wind cooling for the distillation process, the facility will be capable of producing 200,000 PLA per year of new make spirit for Galloway Scotch Whisky.
Future Releases
The current portfolio includes The Sassenach Blended Scotch Whisky and The Sassenach Wild Scottish Gin. The Galloway Distillery will release its first new spirit, The Sassenach Finest Scottish Vodka, in November 2025.
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