Levenbank distillery to introduce West African fonio grain to new whisky series
Levenbank distillery is set to introduce the fast growing, high-fibre West African grain Fonio to Scottish distilling for the first time with the launch of a very special series of unique grain whiskies.
The African grain - also known as ‘hungry rice’, ‘findi’ or ‘acha’ – has a root system that means it can grow in harsh environments – typically dry climates, with poor soil and without irrigation. Fonio is a staple crop in rural communities in countries including Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Senegal. It is 5,000 years old and is prevalent in cultures and cuisine of the region of West Africa in particular.
Guinea is the biggest producer of fonio, often associated with nutritional benefits ranging from essential amino acids, dietary fibre and vital minerals like iron, zinc, and magnesium. It is naturally gluten-free and has a low glycaemic index, making it an excellent choice for blood sugar management and celiac-friendly diets.
One of Africa’s oldest cereals, fonio has strong sustainability credentials due to its drought resistance and ability to grow in nutrient-poor soil without fertilisers and pesticides. It is this that makes it an attractive choice for businesses looking for sustainable means of brewing and distilling. It is also not a mass-produced commodity, such as barley or wheat.
Beer fans might recognise the name of this grain as it was used in 2023 by Glasgow-based brewers Brewgooder, who launched it as a carbon neutral session IPA. The Brewgooder team collaborated with Brooklyn Brewery to create, what was at the time, the UK's first beer using this West African ‘super-grain’ fonio.
The collaboration between Brewgooder and Brooklyn Brewery had the dual benefit of purchasing goods from West African farmers, while also re-investing part of the funds to support the development of rural communities within fonio farming countries.
Inspired by this recent use of the fonio grain in UK brewing, Scotland’s newest lowland distillery, Dumbarton-based Levenbank is set to fill a small number of single grain casks with fonio at the heart of its malt bill.
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Distilling starts in early 2027 and the Levenbank team believes it will bring an element of spice, an all-round smoothness and a hint of red fruits to the whisky. This new make spirit will sit alongside the existing stable of single malt and single grain new make spirits presently maturing away at the distillery since 2025. The planned release of the first fonio grain whisky bottling will be in 2029 and Levenbank’s first single malt whiskies in 2030.
“Learning more about fonio from its recent uses in UK brewing had us intrigued and we felt that the flavours we could drive from this grain fitted perfectly with our desire to create flavour forward new make spirits.
“It’s great to be involved in innovations like this which will also see some tangible and positive impacts across the West African farming sector, as it grows in popularity,” said George Wotherspoon, Head of Sales and Development, Levenbank Distillery and Loch Lomond Brewery.
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