Jackton revives South Lanarkshire Whisky Tradition after more than 180 years

‘Inaugural Release’ marks a new chapter in a local single malt story last shared in 1840.

Jackton Distillery has officially launched RAER Single Malt Scotch Whisky, The Inaugural Release, a milestone for the family-run Lowland producer based on the Kean family farm just outside Glasgow.

The first bottles begin shipping Friday 4 September 2026, bringing locally-distilled single malt whisky back to South Lanarkshire, after a more than 180-year gap in the area’s recorded whisky history.

Historic records suggest Jackton is the first distillery to distil, mature and bottle its own single malt whisky in South Lanarkshire in almost two centuries.

The last historic malt distillery operating within the modern boundaries of South Lanarkshire was Gill, near Lesmahagow, which closed in 1840. After a 186-year hiatus, Jackton Distillery filled its first cask in February 2020. Coincidentally, the path of the Gill Burn River runs through the modern Jackton estate.

Historic distilleries including Gill, Castle Hill at Carluke, Avonglen at Larkhall and Wilsontown near Carnwath form part of the area’s largely forgotten whisky heritage. With The Inaugural Release, Jackton Distillery is bringing that tradition back to the glasses of Lanarkshire whisky enthusiasts.

Jaynie Kean, Managing Director of Jackton Distillery, said:

“South Lanarkshire has a whisky story that many people won’t know, so this launch feels bigger than us.

“The history came long before Jackton, but to bring locally distilled Single Malt back to this area after 180 years is incredibly special for our family and team.

“We laid down our first casks in February 2020, just before the world changed. Since then, we’ve watched, waited, tasted and worked towards the point where we could finally share a Single Malt with the RAER name on the bottle.”

RAER Inaugural Release has been distilled, matured and bottled at Jackton Distillery. The whisky has been drawn from Bourbon, Pedro Ximénez, Amontillado and Oloroso sherry casks, and bottled at 48.7% ABV. It is natural colour and non chill filtered.

Limited to 6,000 individually hand-numbered bottles and priced at £68, The Inaugural Release has been designed to be opened, poured and shared.

The bottle introduces the RAER View, a distinctive front-label window that invites people to look through the glass and see the world differently through RAER Single Malt. As the whisky is enjoyed, the view becomes clearer.

Every future RAER Single Malt release will carry its own RAER View, making each bottle visually distinct and adding a collectable element for whisky fans who follow the distillery’s releases over time.

Jaynie added:

“Our first Single Malt is collectable, of course, but we hope people open it too.

“The RAER View is our way of building that idea into the bottle itself. You can keep it, collect it and remember it, but the whisky has been made to be enjoyed. That feels very true to what RAER is all about.”

From Friday 4 September, visitors to Jackton Distillery will be able to taste RAER Single Malt as part of the tour experience. The release will also travel across Scotland as part of a Single Malt roadshow from 5 to 12 September, followed by a special Edinburgh event on 13 September.

Led by Jaynie Kean, 28, one of Scotland’s youngest female distillery founders and managing directors, Jackton has built its reputation as a young, independent and hands-on Lowland producer.

RAER Single Malt Scotch Whisky, The Inaugural Release, is available at:

www.raer.co.uk/raer-single-malt/

Tags: JacktonRAERSouth LanarkshireWhisky Tradition

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.