GlenWyvis Distillery, the "world's first" community-owned whisky distillery, has entered administration following a "prolonged period" of financial and legal troubles. All three members of staff have been made redundant, and there will be no further distilling of whisky or gin while administrators explore asset realisations.
Administrators appointed
The distillery, also trading as 'The Society', announced on September 23 that it had filed a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators (NOIA) at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. A new update on the firm's website confirms that Geoffrey Isaac Jacobs and Alistair McAlinden of Interpath Limited were appointed as joint administrators on October 5, 2026.
The distillery's online shop has also been "paused." The move was made following "increased operating costs and ongoing external pressures."
Industry challenges
Speaking to the Daily Record, Alistair McAlinden, head of Interpath in Scotland and joint administrator, said: "These are challenging times for Scotland's whisky industry.
"We are aware of many independent producers up and down the country who are battling hard to keep their head above water in the face of rising costs, as well as oversupply and working capital strain from long maturation cycles which have coincided with a global cost of living crisis and changing drinking trends among younger generations.
"For GlenWyvis, the lack of future funding available has meant that there was no option but to appoint Administrators. With funding exhausted, there will be no distilling of whisky or gin while we look to explore how best to maximise realisations from the assets of the Society. We would ask all potential interested parties to contact us as a matter of urgency. Enquiries regarding the assets of the Society should be sent to: glenwyvis@interpath.com"
Future of private casks
McAlinden added: "We understand that a significant number of members and customers own private casks held through the Society and that the position of those casks will be an immediate concern. Further information will follow to confirm arrangements for those parties and their casks."
GlenWyvis also confirms on its website that its online shop has been "paused". It comes after the Society's Management Committee was said to have explored a range of options to consider its future, including external fundraising, although this did not produce the necessary capitol it needed to continue trading.
Background and impact
Founded in 2015, GlenWyvis became the "world's first" community-owned distillery. Set against the backdrop of Ben Wyvis in the Highlands, it is said to be backed by around 3,800 members across Scotland and around the world.
Over the past decade, it has produced award-winning spirits from its site above Dingwall. It was also powered by sustainability, using renewable energy sources including wind, hydro, solar, and biomass.
Nevertheless, the distillery has faced a "prolonged period" of "substantive" commercial, operation and legal issues, with bosses citing "challenging conditions across the whisky market, rising operating costs and sustained external pressures."
Administrators have confirmed that the Society's three members of staff have now been made redundant. There will also be no further distilling of gin or whisky, with administrators focusing on owned whisky stocks and distillery equipment ahead of any sale of these assets.
Affected staff will now be provided with support from Interpath's specialist employment team to help with claims for monies owed to the Redundancy Payments Service. Private cask owners will also receive communications from the administrators.
