Who are you, and what’s your role?
I’m Peter Dignan (owner) and like any small business my role is anything that needs doing and anything I need to do.
How long have you had the distillery open?
The distillery opened in 2017.
What inspired you / the company to start distilling?
The distillery plan was hatched as many great plans are, during a late-night drinking session.
It’s such an interesting industry that has great heritage and great stories. My business partner Rich and myself were both looking for a new direction in life and distilling seemed far more interesting than Oil & Gas. A lot of my family worked in Speyside distilleries and the industry was a big part of my life growing up.
How would describe the distillery’s ethos? / Are there any particular initiatives?
To be inventive in our thinking, to look at history for inspiration and to produce a range of unique spirits using the very best local ingredients.
Everything we do is all for the love of distilling, and the three things that are important at Lost Loch are the place, the process, and the spirits.
The Place – The Lost Loch Spirits distillery is in the heart of Royal Deeside, 30 miles west of Aberdeen. The distillery is built on the banks of the now drained Loch Auchlossan or the Lost Loch. The landscape and the history surrounding us seep into the storytelling, flavours, and the branding.
The Process – To maintain the highest standards Lost Loch Spirits produces using a small batch mentality in an honest and transparent way. We only use natural ingredients and where we can, we search for local produce. We respect the environment, and the distillery takes a percentage of its heat and power from a solar array, biomass boiler, and a wind turbine. We respect the legacy of distilling, whilst practising modern techniques of production.
The Spirits – We have a fresh, open, and innovative approach to spirits. Each product is small batch and thoughtfully created, drawing inspiration from local provenance and the histories of the land around us. The final products are quirky, invigorating, and imaginative, distinctly separate but part of the Lost Loch Spirits family. Our ethos is to be inventive in our thinking, to look at history for inspiration and to produce enticing and unique spirits.
What are your plans for 2022?
We are currently installing a new 2000 litre still. We plan to grow the contract/white label side of the business and hopefully the increased capacity will open doors to larger contract clients. We also plan to launch a non-alcoholic and will be laying down our first rum casks for ageing.