The Galloway Distillery
Pair The Galloway Distillery with a round
Galloway's first whisky distillery, based in Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway. Founded in 2017 by brothers Graham and Stephen Taylor, it produces gin (their Hills & Harbour brand) alongside a single malt still in its early maturation years. In September 2025 the business was renamed The Galloway Distillery after Outlander star Sam Heughan and partner Alex Norouzi invested, with the original team staying on. The visitor operation is small-scale — the setting in rural south-west Scotland a welcome change from the crowded Speyside circuit.
Galloway's first whisky distillery, in Newton Stewart in the often-overlooked south-west. Founded in 2017, it built its name on gin (Hills & Harbour) while its single malt matures. In September 2025 it was renamed The Galloway Distillery after Sam Heughan and Alex Norouzi bought in. The Dumfries & Galloway setting is regularly skipped by whisky tourists focused on Speyside and Islay, making it a genuine off-the-beaten-track discovery.
Visiting The Galloway Distillery
Wigtown Road (A714), Newton Stewart
Tour options
Guided tour
Private group, minimum 2
Manager-led, minimum 2 guests
Core range
Billy & Co Single Malt (first release)
Various (first releases)
The Billy & Co single malt is at or near its first release under the distillery's new Galloway identity — small quantities, sold direct. The Hills & Harbour gin remains the flagship in the meantime.
Character & reputation
Galloway's first distillery, in Newton Stewart in the overlooked south-west, built from local larch by brothers Graham and Stephen Taylor in 2017. Gin came first and remains the flagship — Hills & Harbour, with noble fir, bladderwrack and Sichuan pepper among its botanicals — while the single malt is still young. In September 2025 the business was renamed the Galloway Distillery after Outlander star Sam Heughan and partner Alex Norouzi bought in, with the original team staying on. The visitor operation is small-scale and well away from the Speyside crowds. Best for a south-west Scotland itinerary alongside Bladnoch and Annandale.
Food pairings
| Whisky | Food | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Crafty Distillery whisky | Galloway beef or Solway seafood | The south-west Scotland spirit suits local Galloway produce. |
Getting there
Car. Just outside Newton Stewart, Dumfries & Galloway, off the A714 Wigtown Road.
Where to eat nearby
- Newton Stewart town centreArea
Cafés and pubs in the nearest town.
Where to stay near The Galloway Distillery
The Crafty Distillery is just outside Newton Stewart in the Galloway heartland, off the A714 Wigtown Road. Newton Stewart has B&Bs and small hotels, Wigtown, Scotland's book town, is a short drive south, and the Galloway Forest Park is on the doorstep.
B&Bs and small hotels in and around Newton Stewart.
Location
Wigtown Road (A714), Newton Stewart
Frequently asked questions
+How much is a The Galloway Distillery tour?
Tours at The Galloway Distillery start from £30, with premium tastings and experiences running up to £120. Book ahead through the distillery's own site — prices checked against the distillery on 2026-07-29.
+Where is Crafty Distillery distillery?
Just outside Newton Stewart in Galloway, Dumfries & Galloway, off the A714 Wigtown Road.
+When was Crafty Distillery distillery founded?
Crafty Distillery was founded in 2017, making it roughly 9 years old.
Compare with similar distilleries
South-west Scotland positioning alongside Annandale and Bladnoch. Craft scale similar to Dornoch.
Annandale
Founded in 1836, mothballed in 1918, and resurrected in 2014 by Professor David Thomson. Unusually produces both unpeated (Man O' Words) and heavily peated (Man O' Sword) single malts from the same site — named after the two sides of Robert Burns' character.
Bladnoch
Scotland's most southerly distillery, founded in 1817 and revived by Australian entrepreneur David Prior in 2015. Produces classically light, grassy Lowland single malts in a quiet corner of Dumfries & Galloway that most visitors never reach. The 11 Year Old was replaced in September 2024 by 13 and 16 Year Old Heritage Collection bottlings alongside the NAS Vinaya.
Dornoch
A tiny distillery built into a converted fire station next to Dornoch Castle Hotel by brothers Phil and Simon Thompson, known for heritage barley varieties, floor maltings, and direct-fired stills — a near-total throwback to pre-industrial whisky making. Output is miniscule; releases sell out on announcement.
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