From farm steading to distillery: the story of Kingsbarns
A golf caddie who gets the same question time and again from visitors from abroad: "Where is there actually a distillery around here?" That simple problem led to one of Scotland's youngest Lowland distilleries, built in a dilapidated 18th-century farmhouse close to the golf courses of St Andrews. This is the story of Kingsbarns.
In short
| Initiator | Douglas Clement, former golf caddie in St Andrews |
| Location | East Newhall Farm, Kingsbarns, Fife |
| Open | November 30, 2014 (St Andrew's Day) |
| Owner since | 2013, the Wemyss family (Wemyss Malts) |
| First single malt | August 2018 |
A caddie with an idea
Douglas Clement worked as a golf caddie around St Andrews, the birthplace of golf, and heard foreign visitors ask the same question time and again: where could they visit a whisky distillery nearby? That question proved surprisingly difficult to answer — there was no distillery anywhere in the wider area around St Andrews. Clement saw an opportunity, and in 2009 he began the search for a suitable location: a dilapidated farmhouse, East Newhall Farm, in the village of Kingsbarns on the Fife coast.
From ruin to distillery
Clement initially gathered support from 32 investors and Scottish government aid, but more capital was needed for the full restoration. In 2013, the Wemyss family—already active in the Scottish drinks world through Wemyss Malts and Darnley's Gin—took over the project. The careful renovation of the farm barns, built around 1800, aimed to preserve the original character of the buildings while installing modern distilling equipment. On November 30, 2014, St Andrew's Day, Kingsbarns officially opened its doors; the first cask was filled in March 2015 and given a place of honour in the Doocot—a traditional Scottish dovecote and the oldest building on the farm.
Waiting until the whisky was ready
Between that first filling in 2015 and the first official single malt, there were over three years of maturation: it was not until August 2018 that Kingsbarns unveiled its very first single malt Scotch whisky. Balcomie, fully matured in oloroso sherry casks, followed in 2020. By now, the distillery runs on 100% green energy, uses local barley from Fife, and draws water from its own underground spring filtered through 300-million-year-old sandstone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the distillery called Kingsbarns?
The name refers to the barns in which grain was once stored before being transported to Falkland Palace, a royal palace elsewhere in Fife.
Who is the owner of Kingsbarns Distillery?
The Wemyss family has been the owner since 2013, the same family behind Wemyss Malts and the gin brand Darnley's Gin.
What is the Doocot and why is it important?
The Doocot is a traditional Scottish dovecote and the oldest building on the farm grounds. The very first cask of Kingsbarns whisky, filled in March 2015, was given a special place here.
How long did it take before Kingsbarns sold whisky?
From the opening in November 2014 to the first single malt in August 2018, nearly four years passed: the time required to let the young whisky mature into a full-fledged Scotch.
