Whisky stills made in the traditional manner at McMillan Coppersmiths in Prestonpans will form the central part of a modern distillery under construction at Inverkip on the west coast.

The two copper stills – a wash still and a spirit still – were loaded this morning ready for the 85 mile journey west to Ardgowan Distillery, under the watchful eyes of the craftsmen and women who made them.

The firm employs 35 people in the East Lothian town and is now part of the Briggs Group.

Martin Whitfield MSP, who attended the shipping out, said:

“This company is well known to me – not just since I have been a politician but before when I was a schoolteacher. Some of my children became apprentices here. Living in Prestonpans this has been part of my walk for around 20 years. To come in here and see the brilliant work – these hand-made objects that will last hundreds of years is an incredible privilege and a special moment.”

Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray MP, said:

“This is a big, and emotional, moment for McMillan Coppersmiths as these beautiful stills are moved to Ardgowan Distillery at Inverkip to start their work. This is a really good example of Scotland’s traditional and modern skills coming together – the centuries old art of coppersmithing creating traditional pot stills which will be used to make whisky in one of the most modern distilleries in Scotland.”

McMillan Coppersmiths is a growing company, supplying customers in Mexico and China as well as throughout Scotland. The firm says it has benefited from investment from global engineering company, Briggs of Burton since 2020 and during that time the two businesses have grown in the Scotch whisky sector.

The company specialises in designing and manufacturing copper distillation equipment. Its portfolio includes projects with industry leaders like Diageo, William Grants, Pernod Ricard, Brown Forman and others.

These collaborations have shown the firm’s ability to deliver customised solutions while upholding high standards of quality and innovation. It is a major achievement for the East Lothian firm to have completed the contract placed more than two years ago.