Scotland's Stirling Distillery has begun production of its own new-make spirit – the first to have been made in the city for 170 years.

The distillery, in the shadow of Stirling Castle, announced it had brewed its first mash on 3 October and that it will be experimenting over the coming months to develop the gentle profile desired for its Lowland whisky.

Stirling Distillery launched in 2015 and opened the doors at its current location, which includes a distillery and gin school, in 2019. After years producing its own range of gins, the distillery began its whisky journey in 2021 with its Sons of Scotland independent bottling range, a collection of limited editions using whiskies from the Highlands, Lowlands, islands, and Speyside.

Cameron McCann, Stirling Distillery co-founder, said: “For us, the essential elements in creating a truly special whisky are simple, from using only the best water, yeast, and malted barley, to the care that goes into hand selecting the best-quality casks. This will develop the rich flavours. We’re excited to be embarking on this whisky journey.”

The first releases of Stirling whisky are expected to be ready in late 2026, and will be followed by its VI Casks for King James, a limited-edition set of six bottles. Only 300 sets will be available, with bottles released biannually over three years. The distillery has also established a cask club.