Glen's Vodka maker takes over New York distillery

The maker of Glen’s Vodka has announced a “milestone” takeover of a US whiskey group, which will see the opening of a new visitor centre at Loch Lomond.

The Loch Lomond Group announced the takeover of the Brooklyn-based New York Distilling Company (NYDC) on Wednesday.

Known for making bourbon, the 14-year-old American distillery also produces Dorothy Parker Gin.

It is particularly known for using Horton Heirloom Rye, which was brought to America from Europe in the 17th century.

Allen Katz and Tom Potter, the founders of the New York Distilling Company, said: “Horton Rye was extensively used in the 17th and 18th centuries in the New York area for making Rye but had subsequently almost completely died out.

“The team at The New York Distilling Company was initially gifted ten seeds from the historic ‘seed bank’ at Cornell University in 2015 and has now revived this historic Rye variety by successfully growing and cultivating this ‘heirloom rye’ with their partner farmers in Seneca Falls, New York and subsequently distilling the successful harvests in New York to making some truly incredible whiskeys.”

The Loch Lomond Distillery has been based at Alexandria, in West Dunbartonshire, since 1814, but the limited company which owns it is registered in London.

It is known for making its namesake single malt alongside Glen Scotia and Littlemill, as well as Ben Lomond gin and Glen’s vodka.

The group is set to open a new distillery and visitor centre at Luss, on the western shore of Loch Lomond, in June.

The New York Distilling Company (NYDC) is based in Brooklyn. bigpartnership via Supplied

Chief executive of the Loch Lomond Group, Colin Matthews, said: “We look forward to working closely with the talented and ambitious team at NYDC to invest in both the facilities and products, while supercharging its growth both domestically in the US and around the world through the existing Loch Lomond Group distribution network as well as providing our help and expertise in the continued creation of fabulous flavours.”