BrewDog Distilling Co prepares for its whisky debut

The BrewDog Distilling Company’s managing director oversees a distillery owned by one of the world’s largest beer businesses—an enterprise that employs 2,600 people, generates £353 million in annual revenue, and operates over 100 bars. BrewDog has built its reputation through bold marketing stunts, from driving a tank through London to dropping stuffed ‘fat cats’ from a helicopter over the Bank of England. It even sold ultra-strong beer encased in taxidermy squirrels and stoats. But will this rebellious brand resonate with whisky drinkers?

"Probably not," admits Kersley as he walks through the distillery, which sits next to BrewDog’s massive brewery and headquarters in Ellon—just 30 minutes north of Aberdeen, Scotland’s third-largest city and Europe’s oil capital. While still deciding on a name for the whisky brand, he is certain that the distillery’s identity must reflect its innovative spirit.

Inside the still room, a striking mural spans one wall, depicting squirrels, deer, and other woodland creatures amid lush trees. Yet, the real centerpiece is the impressive lineup of stills in front of it.

Unlike anything else in Scotland, the distillery features a unique combination of pot and column stills, enabling Kersley to produce a diverse range of spirits—including whisky, rum, Tequila, gin, and vodka. While some craft distilleries achieve this versatility on a smaller scale, BrewDog takes it to new heights with its towering 20-meter rectifying column standing alongside the stillhouse.