TWO whisky copper pot stills have embarked on an 85-mile journey to their new home.

The stills, manufactured by McMillan Coppersmiths, one of the oldest coppersmiths in the world, were transported from Prestonpans to Ardgowan Distillery in Inverkip on November 4.

McMillan Coppersmiths, based in Prestonpans, is renowned for its craftsmanship and traditional techniques, some of which date back 150 years.

The stills are set to become part of Ardgowan Distillery, which is expected to be one of Scotland's "most efficient" whisky distilleries after seven years of planning and construction.

George Crombie, chief operating officer and engineering director at the Briggs of Burton Group, McMillan Coppersmiths' parent company, said: "Coppersmithing is an intrinsic part of the Scotch whisky industry.

"At McMillan Coppersmiths, we celebrate the best of Scotland by blending our rich heritage and traditional craftsmanship to create iconic copper pot stills used across the whisky industry.

"More than a million hammer blows have created each Ardgowan copper still.

"What is fascinating is that every distiller's still shape and design is different, creating a lot of variety in work for the team who build them.

"This was a real opportunity for our customer and team to come together and mark a key moment in Ardgowan distillery’s project."

McMillan Coppersmiths are based in Prestonpans McMillan Coppersmiths is based in Prestonpans and uses traditional techniques with its coppersmithing (Image: McMillan Coppersmiths) The company is preparing the next generation of coppersmiths through a dedicated craft apprenticeship programme and career opportunities for sheet metal workers.

Ardgowan Distillery has previously partnered with Heriot-Watt University and Briggs of Burton to explore technology for capturing CO2 from the fermentation process and find alternative value-adding uses.

Briggs of Burton, which has designed the distillery process alongside Ardgowan, will soon install a high-tech system called thermal vapour recompression (TVR) which reduces steam usage and makes the distillation process more energy efficient.

Martin McAdam, Ardgowan Distillery chief executive, said: "Ardgowan Distillery is now nearing operational status and is due to be completed in early 2025.

"The copper stills are among the final pieces of the puzzle for the distillery, which will soon be able to open its doors to the public.

"We chose to work with McMillan Coppersmiths not just for its expertise within the distilling industry, but also as part of our commitment to support local communities and businesses across Scotland."

Ardgowan expects to create up to 50 jobs for the Inverkip area and, upon completion, will have the capacity to produce one million litres of premium whisky per year.

The stills' journey from Prestonpans to Inverclyde was marked by a bagpiper sending them on their departure and arrival, in a celebration of craftsmanship, Scottish heritage and innovation.