Local Distillery Launches Inaugural Release of Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Friday, September 4th, 2026
Jackton Distillery, a family-run producer in South Lanarkshire, has officially released their first single malt Scotch whisky, RAER Single Malt Scotch Whisky, The Inaugural Release. This marks a major milestone for the distillery, located on the Kean family farm just outside Glasgow.
The first bottles of this locally-distilled single malt whisky will begin shipping on Friday, September 4th, 2026, bringing a long-awaited return of single malt whisky to South Lanarkshire after a 180-year absence in the area’s recorded whisky history.
According to historic records, Jackton Distillery is the first in South Lanarkshire to distill, mature, and bottle their own single malt whisky 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 186 years, Jackton Distillery filled its first cask in February 2020. The Gill Burn River, which runs through the modern Jackton estate, has a significant role in the area’s largely forgotten whisky heritage, including distilleries such as Castle Hill at Carluke, Avonglen at Larkhall, and Wilsontown near Carnwath.
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.”
The Inaugural Release has been distilled, matured, and bottled at Jackton Distillery. The whisky was drawn from Bourbon, Pedro Ximénez, Amontillado, and Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 48.7% ABV. It is natural color and non-chill filtered.
Limited to 6,000 individually hand-numbered bottles and priced at £68, The Inaugural Release is designed to be opened, poured, and shared. The bottle features the distinctive RAER View, a 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. Each future RAER Single Malt release will carry its own RAER View, making each bottle visually distinct and adding a collectible element for whisky fans who follow the distillery’s releases over time.
“Our first Single Malt is collectible, of course, but we hope people open it too,” Jaynie added. “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.”
Visitors to Jackton Distillery will be able to taste RAER Single Malt as part of the tour experience starting Friday, September 4th. The release will also travel across Scotland as part of a Single Malt roadshow from September 5th to 12th, followed by a special Edinburgh event on September 13th.
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/.
Product Details:
Name: RAER Single Malt Scotch Whisky, The Inaugural Release
Distillery: Jackton Distillery
Region: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottle size: 70cl
ABV: 48.7%
Casks: Bourbon, Pedro Ximénez, Amontillado, and Oloroso
Presentation: Natural color and non-chill filtered
Outturn: 6,000 individually hand-numbered bottles
Price: £68
Pre-sale: Open from August 7th, 2026
Shipping: From September 4th, 2026
Collection: Available from Jackton Distillery
For press assets and media inquiries, please contact:
Press images: Available here
Media contact: Greg Smith, Head of Marketing, Jackton Distillery / RAER, greg@raer.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
Jackton Distillery is a family-owned, independent Lowland distillery based on the Kean family farm in South Lanarkshire, just outside Glasgow. Home to RAER Scotch Whisky, the distillery produces whisky and spirits with a focus on accessibility, provenance
