Taste the Whisky Before it Becomes Whisky: Stirling Distillery Opens its Casks to the Public
Scotland's smallest whisky distillery is inviting ten guests a month to taste its maturing single malt spirit at different stages of development, ahead of its first whisky release in June 2027.
Stirling Distillery, Scotland’s smallest whisky distillery, has revealed further details of The Becoming Experience, its new monthly tasting series, following a preview event last week that drew positive reviews from whisky novices and seasoned drinkers alike.
Each session invites ten guests to taste samples of the distillery’s maturing single malt spirit, drawn at different stages across two years of maturation and across different cask types. Guests are guided through each expression in sequence before drawing their own take-home sample of new make spirit directly from the still.
A preview guest said: “Nothing is rushed, nothing is guaranteed, and every decision is driven by quality. If you’re interested in whisky beyond the bottle, this experience is well worth seeking out.”
Each session is hosted by co-founder Cameron McCann, who guides guests through the tasting without directing them on what they should be smelling or tasting. Head distiller Hugo McCann, 20, winner of Best Scottish New Make Whisky at the World Whiskies Awards 2025, oversees the bottle-filling.
Cameron McCann said: “Tasting the spirit at different points in its development tells a story that a single sample never could. You start to understand what maturation actually means, not as a concept, but as something you can taste.”
Hugo McCann added: “Every sample in that flight represents a decision we have made: the cask, the conditions, the time. Sharing that with guests while it is still happening feels like the most honest thing we can do.”
Each monthly session costs £100 per person and includes the tasting flight, a grazing board of cheese, charcuterie and fruit, and a take-home sample drawn directly from the still. Guests are recorded in the distillery’s Founders’ Ledger.
Whisky production returned to Stirling in 2024 for the first time since 1852. The distillery fills its casks using spirit produced on-site at the Old Smiddy on Lower Castlehill, with casks sourced from Trossachs Cooperage in Callander. The first whisky release is planned for June 2027, limited to 320 bottles. The Becoming Experience begins in June 2026, with bookings open two months in advance.
Places are limited to ten guests per session.
Full details and booking: stirlingdistillery.com/pages/distillery-experiences
