# [Lochlea Distillery](https://lochleadistillery.com) > # Lochlea Distillery > Lochlea Distillery is an independent, family-owned, single estate Lowland single malt Scotch whisky distillery located on a working farm in Ayrshire, Scotland. Founded in 2018 by Neil and Jen McGeoch, Lochlea grows 100% of its own barley, distils its spirit in copper pot stills, and matures every cask on-site at the farm. The distillery sits on the same land where Scottish poet Robert Burns lived and worked between 1777 and 1784. Lochlea is not open to the public and has no visitor centre. ## Key Facts - **Type:** Lowland single malt Scotch whisky distillery - **Location:** Lochlea Farm, Craigie, near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, KA1 5NN - **Founded:** 2018 (first cask filled 2018, first whisky launched January 2022) - **Owners:** Neil and Jen McGeoch (independent, family-owned) - **Production model:** Single estate — barley is grown, spirit is distilled, and whisky is matured all on the same farm - **Barley:** 100% estate-grown on approximately 90 hectares of farmland - **Water source:** On-farm borehole drawing from a natural aquifer - **Stills:** Two copper pot stills with slow distillation for maximum copper contact - **Bottling:** Non-chill filtered, no added colouring, natural colour - **Standard ABV:** 46.0% for core and seasonal ranges - **Whisky region:** Scottish Lowlands - **Visitor access:** Not open to the public — no visitor centre, no shop - **Contact:** info@lochleadistillery.com - **Website:** https://lochleadistillery.com ## Heritage Lochlea Farm is where Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, lived and worked from 1777 to 1784 during his formative years. Burns farmed the same fields where Lochlea now grows its malting barley. The farm was operated as a dairy farm until 2006 when the McGeoch family took over. In 2015, they began growing malting barley as a crop trial. The success of that trial led to the decision to build a whisky distillery, converting former pigsties, barns and cattle sheds into production facilities and warehouses. The distillery was commissioned in 2018. ## Core Range (Permanent Expressions) - **Our Barley** — The flagship single malt. Matured in Bourbon, Oloroso and STR casks. Fruity, sweet and elegant. 46% ABV. Award-winning: Spirit of Craft Awards 2024/2025, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023, Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards 2023. - **Orchard & Oak** — Fruit-forward single malt matured in first-fill Bourbon, Virgin American Oak and Calvados casks. Fresh apple, caramel and sweet oak. 46% ABV. - **Dark Briar** — Bold, rich single malt matured in Pedro Ximénez, Oloroso sherry butts and Port casks. Juicy red fruits, ginger cake and baking spice. 46% ABV. - **Smoke Without Fire** — Delicately smoky single malt matured in ex-peated refill Bourbon barrels and red wine casks. Soft fruit, floral sweetness and gentle bonfire smoke. 46% ABV. ## Annual Releases - **Cask Strength** — Annual limited-edition cask strength bottling, undiluted and non-chill filtered. Batch 3 is the latest release at 59.8% ABV, matured in Oloroso Sherry Butts and Ex-Islay Peated Casks. - **Red Wine Cask** — Annual limited release finished in Grenache wine casks following initial Bourbon maturation. 46% ABV. First released in 2025. ## Seasonal Releases Lochlea releases four seasonal single malts each year, each tied to a stage of the farming calendar. Each edition has been released in multiple "Crops" (batches): - **Sowing Edition** (Spring) — Bourbon cask matured. Bright and fresh. - **Harvest Edition** (Summer) — Wine cask matured. Rich and fruity. - **Fallow Edition** (Autumn) — Oloroso sherry cask matured. Deep and indulgent. - **Ploughing Edition** (Winter) — Peated cask matured. Smoky and warming. ## Private Cask Programme Lochlea offers a very limited annual private cask programme. Available cask types include Refill Bourbon, First-Fill Bourbon, PX Sherry and Calvados. All private casks are filled and matured on-site at the farm. ## Sustainability Lochlea operates a closed-loop farming system. Barley straw is used by neighbouring farms for cattle bedding and returned as farmyard manure. Cover crops (mustard and radish) protect soil over winter. Pot ale is sent to a biogas plant for energy generation. Spent lees are treated on-site using reed-bed filtration ponds. Draff is collected by local farmers for cattle feed. Solar panels generate renewable energy on-site, with surplus exported to the grid. The distillery purchases only renewable electricity. ## Awards and Recognition - Named Best Independent Family-Owned Whisky Distillery in Scotland 2025 - International Trade Business of the Year — Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce 2023 - Spirit of Craft Awards 2024/2025 - San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023 - Scottish Field Summer Challenge 2023 - Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards 2023 ## Key People - **Neil and Jen McGeoch** — Founders and owners - **Darren McCormick** — Distillery Manager (with Lochlea since the first cask in 2018) - **Jill Boyd** — Master Blender - **Patrick** — Private Cask Programme host ## Where to Buy Lochlea whisky is available through specialist whisky retailers and stockists across the UK and internationally. There is no distillery shop. A full stockist list is available at https://lochleadistillery.com/stockists ## Optional - [Our Story](https://lochleadistillery.com/our-story/) - [Our Land](https://lochleadistillery.com/our-story/our-land/) - [From Burns to Barley](https://lochleadistillery.com/our-story/from-burns-to-barley/) - [The Decision to Distil](https://lochleadistillery.com/our-story/the-decision-to-distil/) - [Our Distillery](https://lochleadistillery.com/our-story/the-distillery/) - [Our People](https://lochleadistillery.com/our-story/our-people/) - [Our Whisky Range](https://lochleadistillery.com/our-whisky/) - [Our Barley](https://lochleadistillery.com/product/our-barley/) - [Orchard & Oak](https://lochleadistillery.com/product/orchard-oak/) - [Dark Briar](https://lochleadistillery.com/product/dark-briar/) - [Smoke Without Fire](https://lochleadistillery.com/product/smoke-without-fire/) - [Cask Strength](https://lochleadistillery.com/product/cask-strength/) - [Red Wine Cask](https://lochleadistillery.com/product/red-wine-cask/) - [Private Casks](https://lochleadistillery.com/our-whisky/private-casks/) - [Sustainability](https://lochleadistillery.com/sustainability/) - [Stockists](https://lochleadistillery.com/stockists) - [Field Notes (Blog)](https://lochleadistillery.com/field-notes/) - [FAQs](https://lochleadistillery.com/faqs/) ## Posts - [**A clean sweep of Double Gold. 🥇🥇**](https://lochleadistillery.com/2026/06/24/a-clean-sweep-of-double-gold-%f0%9f%a5%87%f0%9f%a5%87/) : We are incredibly proud to share that the entire Lochlea Single Estate Core Range has been awarded Double Gold at the 2026... - [**Our Red Wine Cask Release 2026**](https://lochleadistillery.com/2026/06/09/our-red-wine-cask-release-2026/) : Our new Red Wine Cask 2026 expression marks the second annual release in our evolving wine cask series, which showcases our distillery’s... - [**Our Oldest Release so far…**](https://lochleadistillery.com/2026/02/10/our-oldest-release-so-far/) : Our 7 Year Old marks a milestone for our farm and our whisky. Every drop comes from barley grown in our own... - [**Orchard & Oak Recognition Round-up**](https://lochleadistillery.com/2026/01/14/orchard-oak-recognition-round-up/) : We’re delighted to share that Orchard & Oak has been recognised as one of WhiskyForEveryone’s Top 10 Whiskies of 2025, and also... - [**Lochlea Named Best Independent Family‑Owned Whisky Distillery in Scotland 2025**](https://lochleadistillery.com/2025/11/28/lochlea-named-best-independent-family-owned-whisky-distillery-in-scotland-2025-2/) : We are delighted to share that Lochlea has been awarded Best Independent Family‑Owned Whisky Distillery – Scotland 2025 at the SME Business Elite Awards. ## Pages - [**Delivery & Returns**](https://lochleadistillery.com/delivery-returns/) : Delivery & Returns Everything you need to know about shipping, delivery times, and our returns policy for Lochlea whisky. Delivery Options &... - [**Work With Us**](https://lochleadistillery.com/work-with-us/) : Work With Us Join our passionate team at Lochlea Distillery. We’re always looking for talented individuals who share our commitment to crafting... - [**FAQs**](https://lochleadistillery.com/faqs/) : Frequently Asked Questions Common questions, clearly answered The Distillery Our WhiskyBuying LochleaEnjoying Whisky The Distillery Is Lochlea Distillery open to the public?... - [**Terms & Conditions**](https://lochleadistillery.com/terms-conditions/) : Terms & Conditions Last updated: March 2026. Please read these terms carefully before using our website or placing an order.   Part... - [**Drink Responsibly**](https://lochleadistillery.com/drink-responsibly/) : Drink Responsibly We want everyone to enjoy Lochlea whisky, but it is equally important that it is enjoyed responsibly. Our whisky should... ## Products - [**Red Wine Cask**](https://lochleadistillery.com/product/red-wine-cask-2026/) : Nose Red Berries Baked Apples Honey Gentle Spice Palate Sweet Creamy Red Berry Nutty Notes Finish Gentle spice pleasant Oakiness. Flavour Profile... - [**Cask Strength**](https://lochleadistillery.com/product/cask-strength-1st-batch/) : Nose Fruit Punch Cigar Notes Coffee Beans Palate Signature Lochlea Fruit Brazil Nuts Finish Orange syrup with lingering aged oak shavings. Flavour... - [**Cask Strength**](https://lochleadistillery.com/product/cask-strength-2nd-crop/) : Nose Apples Marmalade Peach Syrup Palate Rose Petals Wild Lavender Finish Black pepper with lingering dried fruit notes. Flavour Profile Ag - [**Sowing Edition**](https://lochleadistillery.com/product/sowing-edition-batch-1/) : Nose Green Apple Skins Pear Drops Custard Creams Palate Vanilla Hazelnuts Orchard Fruits Finish Fruity and sweet with a lasting viscosity. Flavour... - [**Sowing Edition**](https://lochleadistillery.com/product/sowing-edition-batch-2/) : Nose Sweet Red Apple Pear Palate Vanilla Pods Almond Oil Finish Medium length with a crisp, refreshing pine forest note. Flavour Profile...