Make every moment Raer - Jackton Distillery previews its first Single Malt

Left to Right: Claragh, Nicola, Jacob and Jaynie Kean

A family‑run Lowland distillery steps into a new chapter as Jackton prepares to reveal the single malt that has quietly shaped its identity from day one.

Six years after filling their very first cask, the team at Jackton Distillery are finally ready to lift the lid on their inaugural RAER Single Malt. And in true Jackton style, they’re doing it with a Burns Night gathering on the former family farm.

Between 23–25 January, a small group of whisky lovers will be the first to taste the spirit that’s been resting patiently in Jackton’s warehouses since February 2020. It’s a milestone that marks not just the arrival of a new Lowland single malt, but the culmination of a decade‑long family ambition.

“We promised ourselves we’d pour our heart and soul into every drop,” says Managing Director Jaynie Kean, who leads the (mostly) female‑run distillery. “To finally draw from those casks and share our Single Malt for the first time is incredibly moving.”

A Distillery Built on Belief

Jackton Distillery sits on the Kean family’s former farm in South Lanarkshire — a place where the lines between agriculture, craft and community blur in a way that feels distinctly Lowland. Their blended Scotch, RAER, has already earned awards and a loyal following for its easy‑drinking, inclusive style. But the single malt has always been the quiet north star.

“It was all very uncertain when we started,” says Claragh Kean. “Operating independently is a massive risk. But one thing never changed: we wanted our own single malt. We wanted to show the world what we could do.”

On a recent press trip, sisters Claragh and Jaynie told stories of growing up on the farm and how it has shaped their business today. They have a deep respect for the natural — from livestock and landscape to long‑term sustainability — and that instinct runs through the veins of Jackton. Draff from the stills feeds nearby cattle, water is reused, and heat from distillation warms the buildings. “Nothing is wasted and everything comes full circle,” adds Jacob Kean, who oversees operations. “Embracing the circular economy isn’t just eco‑friendly — it makes our whisky more authentic.”

A Burns Night With Meaning

Guests at the preview won’t just be tasting the whisky; they’ll help select the standout casks that will form Batch No.1, each bottle hand‑numbered by the team.

The general release is slated for Q3 2026, with the distillery confirming they remain on track for an autumn launch. “We’re taking our time, because that’s what our whisky deserves,” Jaynie says. “Every extra month in the cask deepens its character.”

Why RAER

RAER Whisky positions itself around connection — whisky as a shared moment.

At the press preview, Jaynie shares her dad’s artistic epiphany: a stylish Scottish couple standing before a stunning mountain vista, lifting their kilts to flash their rears in front of a beautiful “rare view.” This playful vision inspired RAER Whisky and its “RAER moments,” with “Make every moment RAER” etched on the distillery wall. There is also a chair among the casks where visitors can record their own stories or ‘raer’ moments.

For a young Lowland distillery to reach this point in just six years is no small feat. But for the Kean family, it’s simply the next step in a story defined by belief, graft and a refusal to rush a good thing.

Jackton Distillery Hayhill Road Jackton, Glasgow G74 5AN, Scotland