NEW CHANCE TO OWN SHARES IN WORLD’S FIRST COMMUNITY-OWNED DISTILLERY
17th April 2024
The world’s first fully community owned distillery is today (17th April 2024) announcing another opportunity to buy shares in the venture. GlenWyvis distillery, near Dingwall in the Highlands of Scotland, aims to raise up to £2 million to allow it to increase production and to drive tourism to the local community.
GlenWyvis was established in 2015, the brainchild of former Army Air Corps helicopter pilot John McKenzie. Its purpose is to unite the community of Dingwall around a distillery owned by local people – the first of its kind in the world. Since its inception the distillery has:
- Raised £3.7m for the construction and operation of a renewable energy distillery.
- Generated £50,000 for the local community and awarded grants totalling £30,000.
- Distilled over 222,000 litres of absolute alcohol and filled more than 1550 casks of varying sizes.
- Released three expressions of Highland Single Malt Scotch whisky.
- Become one of the largest registered Community Benefit Societies in the UK
Matching previous crowdfunding campaigns, each share is offered for £50 with a minimum option of five shares, totalling £250. In return, as well as owning part of a Scottish distillery, investors get exclusive member bottlings, investment rewards and a 20% discount on all sales. The funds will be used to pave the way for increased production by expanding a bonded warehouse and building a low-volume bottling facility. They will also pay for a new visitor experience to drive tourism to Dingwall.
David McIntyre, Chair of GlenWyvis, said
“We are excited to extend an invitation to participate in our third share and members’ bonds offers. This is an opportunity to become part of a community that is not only dedicated to the craft of whisky and gin production but also deeply committed to making a positive impact on people’s lives in Dingwall and beyond. At GlenWyvis Distillery we carefully handcraft our spirits with a blend of traditional techniques and modern environmental consciousness. We are passionate about supporting our local community and in line with this commitment, we are proud to have allocated grants to educational and cultural initiatives, as well as to local entrepreneurs to help their businesses grow. We believe that our share and bond offers will resonate with those who share our values and interests. Whether you reside locally or are simply drawn to the rich history and culture of Scotland, there is a place for you in our community. We eagerly anticipate welcoming our newest shareholders aboard as we continue our journey of crafting exceptional whisky while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Join us in this endeavour and become a part of something truly special.”
GlenWyvis currently has 3,625 shareholders of whom 28% live close to the distillery, 44% live in the rest of Scotland, 16% live in the rest of the UK and the remaining 12% live in 36 countries worldwide.
“The grants we have awarded so far cover a huge range of good causes, from funding for a lunch club for children suffering from stress and anxiety to promotional videos for local companies,” said Distillery Director and Head of the GoodWill Fund, Jock Ramsay.
“Five per cent of all online sales are allocated to the GoodWill Fund and this year we are donating over 18% of net profit to the local community in and around Dingwall. We have just announced the second round of grants which means this fragile rural community is beginning to see the transformative potential of this project. All this could not have been achieved without the generosity and support of our shareholders.”
Production Manager Craig MacRitchie added,
“I’ve been here at the distillery since the beginning and I’ve already seen it achieve major milestones, such as the first spirit being distilled and the first batch of whisky receiving critical acclaim. It’s exciting to see GlenWyvis blazing a trail in the industry, not just in terms of its low carbon footprint and connecting those with a link to Dingwall, wherever they might be in the world, but also just to be making great whisky.”
GlenWyvis distillery is fully supported by renewable energy, most of which is generated on-site by a wind turbine, hydro and solar panels. A biomass steam boiler runs on wood chips sourced from local farms and all ingredients are locally sourced.
