Eden Mill Distillery Opens a New Chapter and Releases Distillers Cask #1

Eden Mill has entered a bold new era. In October last year, the Fife‑based distillery opened the doors to its spectacular new home on the banks of the Eden Estuary in Guardbridge, a stone’s throw from the Old Course and the historic skyline of St Andrews. The multi‑million‑pound site marks a significant moment not just for the brand, but for whisky production in the region, blending modern sustainability with centuries‑old Scottish distilling tradition.

And now, Eden Mill has unveiled the first whisky to be fully released from this new chapter: Distillers Cask #1, an 8‑year‑old lightly peated single malt matured in a single ex‑Amarone red wine cask and bottled at batch strength. It’s a statement release - confident, characterful, and unmistakably Eden Mill.

A Distillery Reborn on the Eden Estuary

The new Eden Mill distillery is more than a production site; it’s a destination. Set within the University of St Andrews’ Eden Campus, a hub dedicated to sustainable innovation, the building rises above the water with clean lines, panoramic glass, and a sense of openness that mirrors the brand’s forward‑thinking ethos.

Inside, traditional equipment sits at the heart of the operation: a mash tun, six washbacks, a gin still, and whisky stills, supported by a warehouse capable of holding 300 casks. With a production capacity of up to one million litres of pure alcohol per year, Eden Mill has built a distillery designed to grow, evolve, and push boundaries.

But what truly sets it apart is its commitment to sustainability. The entire site is powered by renewable energy, a combination of the university’s solar farm and green grid tariffs. In 2024, Eden Mill partnered with Scottish biotech company MiAlgae to transform distillation by‑products into sustainable Omega‑3, reducing pressure on global fish stocks and creating a circular, future‑focused production model.

This is a distillery built for the next generation of whisky drinkers.

A Visitor Experience with a Sense of Place

Eden Mill’s new home is designed to be explored. Guests can take immersive gin and whisky tours, browse exclusive bottlings in the retail space, and soak up sweeping views from The Lookout, a 40‑seat cocktail bar perched at the top of the distillery. From midday until 10pm, visitors can sip classic and contemporary cocktails while gazing across the Eden Estuary towards St Andrews, accompanied by cheese and charcuterie boards sourced from a local deli.

And in a playful nod to the town’s global golfing heritage, the distillery features a professional golf simulator. Guests can play The Old Course or a selection of iconic Scottish and international courses with a G&T in hand. It’s a uniquely St Andrews experience, blending sport, spirits, and scenery in one place.

Distillers Cask #1 - A Landmark Release

A Single Cask hand‑selected by Scott Ferguson, the man who has distilled and matured every cask at Eden Mill, Release #1 is a lightly peated single malt matured in an ex‑Amarone red wine cask from Northern Italy.

Made from 100% peated malted barley, with peat sourced from St Fergus in Aberdeenshire and a phenol level of 20–30 PPM, the spirit carries a gentle, coastal‑tinged smoke. That delicate peat intertwines beautifully with the Amarone cask’s rich red‑fruit character, creating a whisky that is distinctive yet wonderfully balanced.

On the nose and palate, expect velvety fig, maritime brine, leather and cigar tobacco, with the wine cask adding layers of black cherry and dark chocolate. It’s full‑bodied, rich, and continues to unravel new flavours long into the finish.

Of all the casks filled at the original distillery, only around 5% (roughly 40 casks) ever held peated spirit. Of those, just two were matured in Amarone wine casks, making this an exceptionally rare and unique release.

Bottled at batch strength 53.1% ABV, Release #1 is limited to 311 bottles.

Expect notes of:

• Gentle peat smoke - soft, coastal, and elegant

• Dark red fruits from the Amarone cask

• Toasted oak and warm spice

• A rich, wine‑soaked sweetness balanced by savoury depth

• A long, warming finish that nods to both the cask and the peat

It’s a whisky that feels intentional, a bridge between Eden Mill’s past and its future, shaped by the coastal air and the distillery’s experimental spirit.

A New Chapter for St Andrews Whisky

Eden Mill was founded in 2012, becoming the first distillery to produce spirits in St Andrews in more than 150 years. What began as a small, ambitious operation on the banks of the Eden Estuary has now grown into a world‑class distillery with global reach and local soul.

The opening of the new site and the release of Distillers Cask #1 marks the beginning of a new era for whisky in St Andrews. One rooted in tradition, powered by sustainability, and driven by innovation.

This is a distillery with momentum. And if Distillers Cask #1 is any indication, Eden Mill’s next chapter is going to be a fascinating one.

Distillers Cask #1 is available to purchase at the distillery for £115.00 https://www.edenmill.com/collections/single-malt-whisky-collection

Eden Mill Distillery, Eden Campus, Guardbridge, St Andrews. KY16 0US