Distillery Profiles

On the eastern edge of Speyside at kennethmont between the River Bogie, the Clashindarroch Forest and the foothills of the Grampian mountains lies Ardmore Distillery.It was founded in 1898 just before the collapse of the whisky marketa year later due to over supply. Its survival can be attributed to the fact that it was built to maintain malt supplies for Teachers' Highland Cream.Ardmore is from the Gaelic, Ard-moi, meaning 'big slope'.

The distillery has an incredibly fascinating history dating back to 1824 enduring fire, bombing and explosions before finally falling silent in 1983. In 1877 a fire completely destroyed the distillery, leaving only the maltings and warehouses untouched. Over the next 5 months, rapid rebuilding was undertaken and by October the distillery was back in full operation, with the addition of their own private fire engine permanently situated on the premises. During World War II, the barley lofts were used for the soldiers and Nissen huts were built on site. On the 16th August 1941, Warehouse No. 12 was bombed by a German Junkers Ju 88 bomber resulting in exploding casks of spirit which left farmland animals drunk. The distillery continued production until it closed in 1983.

Up until 1969 Brora Distillery was known under another name - Clynelish Distillery. During 1967-8 another distillery was built next to the then known Clynelish. This new modern distillery, which has six stills, then took over the name Clynelish. The old Victorian distillery, with only two stills, was then named 'Brora' Distillery and reopened in April 1969.Unfortunately, Brora Distillery closed indefinitely in the 1980s, making the exceptional Islay-style malt produced during its short history extremely rare. The Old Brora buildings which are in need of repair, still stand today and contain some of the original equipment of the distillery.

Established by Alexander Matheson, Dalmore Distillery sits on the banks of the Cromarty Firth overlooking the rich and fertile Black Isle. The name is half Gaelic and half ancient Norse and means "the big meadowland". The distillery was bought by the Mackenzie family in 1886, and the distilleries' emblem, the 'twelve pointer stag' was introduced from their clan crest. Ownership remained with the Mackenzies until 1960 when it was bought by the Glasgow based Whyte & Mackay Group.In 1956 a Saladin box was installed for malting barley. This operated until 1981, when malting production ceased.

Glen Albyn Distillery faced many turbulent times beginning with devastating damage provoked by a fire in November 1849, but was back distilling again by 1850. Twenty years after it was first founded the distillery hit more hard time and was sold and renovated into a flour mill. In 1884 Gregory (Grigor) and Company rebuilt the distillery and grew into a lucartive business with an estimated annual output of 75,000 gallons of single highland malt scotch whisky. The distillery housed worm tubs that differed from the usual: formed like the letter D as opposed to the usual round shape, they created a larger increase in cooling power which improves the flavour of good whisky.In 1882 Glen Albyn's neighbour Glen Mhor was constructed, and its operator Mackinlays and Birnie Ltd also bought over Glen Albyn Distillery. Both were then in turn bought out by DCL and finally transferred to SMD. Glen Albyn was finally mothballed and demolished in the 1980's.

Inland from the east coast of Scotland is the ancient market town of Brechin which boasts two distilleries, Glencadam and North Port. The former was built in 1895 and extensively modernised in the 1950s. Most of its production goes for blending and used for Ballantines & Cream of the Barley.The distillery has no visitor centre but visitors are welcome by appointment.

Glenglassaugh Distillery was founded in 1875 by James Moir, a local general store owner. Elgin architects Reid and Melvin designed the distillery and William Sellar of Keith was recruited to plan out the plant. The initial annual production of the distillery was 100,000 gallons.Robertson and Baxter were major customers who supplied spirit to Teacher's for blending and in 1892 purchased the distillery for £10000, who then sold it to Highland Distillers for a £5000 profit. Highland Distillers rebuilt the distillery in 1960, it was later mothballed in 1986. In 2008 the distillery was purchased by The Scaent Group and re-opened.

Glenturret, previously called Hosh, is the second distillery to take the name Glenturret. It was renamed in 1875, some 20 years or so after the nearby original distillery of that name closed. It is one of Scotland's smallest distilleries with only two stills, it was silent between 1923 and 1959.It is situated on the banks of the river Turret, near Crieff in Perthshire. It is tucked away in a steep valley between fields and tree-covered hillsides. In the days of illegal distilling, this would have been a good hiding place.Today, Glenturret is home to "The Famous Grouse Experience" and is one of the most visited distilleries in Scotland.

Glenury Royal was to be found at the fishing port and resort of Stonehaven. Its founder, Captain Robert Barclay, was a local Member of Parliament and also an athlete and marathon walker. This flamboyant character had a friend at court to whom he referred as "Mrs Windsor", through whose influence he was given permission by King William IV to append the word "Royal". It was component of the blends made by the small company Jphn Gillon, a Distillers Company Limited subsidiary until the takeover by United Distillers. The distillery was mothballed in 1985 and demolished.

Lochside Distillery began life as a brewery in the 1890s. After closing in the 1950s the site was bought by Joseph Hobbs, who also ran the Ben Nevis Distillery and converted it into Lochside Distillery. The new distillery contained 4 pot stills and a 21 metre high Coffey Still. Lochside Distillery was one of a few distilleries which produced both malt and grain whisky. Following the death of Joseph Hobbs, his son, also Joe, ran the distillery until it was acquired by Destilerias y Crianza, of Madrid, in 1973. The main purpose for the distillery was to produce Scotch Malt to blend with their own Spanish spirit. After years of industrious production Lochside Distillery fell victim to the drinks industry over-production problems of the early 1990s.

Reportedly founded by a Mr. Welsh in 1807, although the first official record of its existence came in 1825 when the distillery was licenced to Rose & McDonald. After briefly being owned by the Haig family, the distillery was bought by a grain merchant and converted into a mill. Rebuilt in 1876, whisky production continued until 1922 when much of the distillery was destroyed by a fire. The distillery was rebuilt again and was the last surviving distillery in Inverness until it was mothballed in 1985. In 1988 the site was sold and converted into a restaurant.

Old Pulteney Distillery lies on the Southern side of Wick, it is Scotland?s most Northerly mainland distillery. At one time Wick was deemed to be such an unruly place that it suffered from a period of prohibition. Ironically, Pulteney was still producing its whisky throughout the period of enforced abstinence.The whisky was dubbed the ?Manzilla of the North? due to the salty character that has been picked up during the maturation.

Teaninich (pronounced Te-an-in-ich) Distillery is situated near Alness north of the Cromarty Firth. It was founded in 1817 and was extended in both 1899 and in 1970. A new still house was added and the six stills are visible from the road. It was the first distillery north of Inverness to be fitted with electricity and one of the first to have telephonic communication between the Proprietor's residence and the quarters of the Excise Officers.The distillery closed in 1985 but has since reopened. In 1884 sales for the year amounted to 74,000 gallons and after expansion Teaninich was able to produce 1,750,000 gallons a year.

The distillery is situated on the site of an old brewery that goes as far back as the year 1488 when it produced a special ale for the coronation of King James IV at Scone. It was redesigned in 1949 by William Delme-Evans, architect of Jura and Glenallachie distilleries. He was the partner of a retired Excise officer setting up the venture but it proved too much of a financial drain and in 1953 it was sold on. The distillery was rebuilt in 1974 and mothballed in 1994.The distillery was purchased in 2003 by a business consortium and is the heart of a retail complex and tourist attraction.

Built in 1798, Scotland's most Northern distillery is set on the site where the infamous illicit distiller, Magnus Eunson's bothy used to stand. Highland Park continues to malt its own barley using the traditional floor malting method and to kiln dry the 'green' malt using peat cut from its own moorlands. One of the few distilleries where you can still see and smell smoke wafting from its pagoda. Cattie Maggie is the underground spring that feeds a former quarry close to Highland Park. The spring and quarry are named after a tinker who lived in the vicinity. The water is pure and very hard, rising through a sedimentary rock of hard sandstone.

The distillery was in the past known as Ledaig, changing its name to Tobermory Distillery in the 1970s. The distillery occupies the ground beside the Ledaig Burn on the foreshore of the picturesque 18th century harbour of Tobermory. Tobermory Distillery has enjoyed mixed fortunes since it was first established in 1823. It has been closed several times, most recently in the 1980s. Having reopened in 1989, Tobermory is now back in production.

Bruichladdich (meaning the 'brae by the shore') was built in 1881 by Robert, William and John Gourlay Harvey. The distillery went through several hands before 1969, when it was bought by Invergordon Distillers as part of a programme designed to create an integrated distilling group. In 1975 an additional 2 stills were added to the original pattern, thus enlarging the mash-house and tun-room and taking capacity far beyond the original design. In 1994 the distillery was mothballed.In 2000 the distillery was purchased by Murray McDavid and is now back in production.

One of the most popular malts in the Connoisseur's Choice range is Caol IIa, enjoyed for its Islay character. It is a lively whisky, peaty and full in flavour, without being as intense as its more famous counterparts. Its availability is limited, and with a name that is difficult to pronounce, Caol Ila has remained an almost secret Islay malt. The name - pronounced 'culleela'is gaelic for 'Sound of Islay'. The distillery is appropriately hidden in a cove near Port Askaig, overlooking the Sound of Islay, across which the ferry chugs to the nearby island of Jura.

Inverleven was built as a part of Hiram Walker's huge grain whisky complex in Dumbarton. The malt whisky stocks for Ballantine's blends had been secured, but grain spirit still had to be purchased from competitors. Plans were laid down to turn an old shipyard on the banks of the River Leven, in Dumbarton, into the largest grain distillery in Europe. More than 600 men worked on the grain distillery when construction began in 1937. Incorporated into the site were a small malt distillery, Inverleven, extensive warehousing and a bottling and blending plant. On the day the Dumbarton plant was officially opened - 28 September 1938, the distillery operated two traditional stills for the production of Inverleven and also a lomond still which produced Lomond Single malt.

Littlemill can make a strong bid for being one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. There was previously a brewery on the site dating back to the 14th century ans so it is likely that distillation took place in early times. Like many Lowland distilleries, Littlemill was triple-distilled until the 1930s, when it switched to the present double-distilled product. The distillery ceased production in 1992 and Loch Lomond Distillers took over in 1994. The distillery remains closed and the majority of the buildings were destroyed by a fire in 2004. Littlemill is unlikely to reopen.

This Lowland Distillery took its name from St Magdalene?s Cross, once a site of a medieval fair and leper colony. The Union Canal ran behind the distillery and not only supplied the cooling water, but in the distillery?s heyday it was also the main method of supply, with barley and other materials brought in by barge to its jetty.The distillery was closed down in 1983, and sold for property development.Now a very rare single malt.

A relatively young distillery, built in 1974 by Justerini & Brooks, Auchroisk (pronounced "oth-rusk") is located deep in the Speyside countryside, midway between Rothes and Keith. The distinctive collection of white washed buildings of Auchroisk has won many architectural awards for its design. Good water is a pre-requisite of distillation and this is found in abundance from nearby Dories Well. The stills at Auchroisk are high-necked, producing a light elegant spirit.

Beyond Grantown-on-Spey in a stretch of land known as the Haughs of Cromdale (meaning a series of valleys) is Balmenach Distillery. This area was notorious for illicit distilling and Balmenach was one of the first distilleries in the Highlands to become legitimate after the Licensing Act of 1823.It was build by James McGregor - great grandfather of Sir Robert Bruce Lochart, author of the entertaining book 'Scotch'.

The early history of the distillery indicates that is was run as part of a farm. It was rebuilt as a distillery when the buildings were destroyed during floods in 1829. The distillery has enjoyed almost continual production with only short breaks during the war years. In 1966 a 2nd set of stills was added, doubling production. Benrinnes uses a form of triple distillation. This produces spirit of around 76% volume, several degrees more than standard double distillation. Benrinnes uses worm-tubs, the traditional pipe-spirals immersed in cold water, to condense the vapours produced by the stills.

Braes of Glenlivet was founded in 1973, making it one of the newest malt distilleries. The distillery nestles against a mountain ridge and is not far from Chapelton. Production was expanded in 1975 and by 1978 the bulk of the malt whisky produced was used as a component of the Chivas Regal blend.In 1995 the distillery changed its name to Braeval, so that it would not be confused with other distilleries in the area.

Coleburn Distillery was built by John Robertson of Dundee and lies to the east of the River Lossie between Elgin and Rothes. The location was chosen for the water supply and the Great Northern Railway which ran close by. The distillery was designed by the famous Elgin architect - Charles Doig. In 1916 the distillery was bought by the Clynelish Distillery Company which then became part of DCL in 1930. It became a key component of Usher's blends and also contributed to Johnnie Walker blends.Coleburn was mothballed by the present owners in 1985. Much of the original buildings remain but it is unlikely that the distillery will produce whisky again.

The first impression of the distillery is the modern design of the buildings, the majority being erected as part of the rebuilding in the 1960s. However a pagoda is still visible - the maltings is the only building remaining from the original distillery. Although they ceased production many years ago, the distillery now houses one of the most technologically advanced mash tuns to be seen at any distillery. Not only is it extremely efficient in extracting the sugary wort, it can discharge 10 tonnes of wet draff in 7 minutes. However the character of Craigellachie is mainly achieved by retaining the traditional worm tubs. No modern condensing units are used - just a large tub of cold water full of copper coils.

Dallas Dhu Distillery was built 6 miles from Dallas by Wright & Greig Ltd, a Glasgow based blending company. Construction was completed in April 1899. The distillery changed hands twice before it was taken over by the DCL in 1929. In April 1939 the distillery went on fire causing £7000 worth of damage. During the second World War the distillery remained closed. In 1950 the distillery was connected to the national grid. Up until 1971 the wash still rummager was powered by a water wheel. Dallas Dhu stopped production in 1983. In 1988 it was bought by Scotland's Historic Buildings and Monuments Directorate, it is now a museum and part of Speyside's Whisky trail.

Glen Elgin Distillery was the last distillery to be built during the boom years of the 1890s. The architect, Charles Doig, stated it would be the last one built in Speyside for 50 years. His prediction was remarkably accurate with Tormore being the next distillery built, in 1958. Until the 1950s the distillery was entirely operated and lit by paraffin. All machinery was driven by a paraffin engine and a water turbine. It was a full time job to keep the paraffin lights burning.Today, the distillery still proudly depicts the White Horse emblem and is part of Diageo's "Elgin Group", along with Linkwood, Glenlossie and Mannochmore. The whisky is still a key component of White Horse blended whisky.

Originally a meal mill, Glen Keith Distillery is in Keith, on the banks of the river Isla, opposite the Strathisla Distillery. Although much of the mill has been demolished, Chivas Brothers converted it to a distillery in 1958 and it was one of the first new malt distilleries built in Scotland since the distillery-building boom of the 1890's. In 1970, Glen Keith became the first distillery in Scotland to have a gas-fired still and the first microprocessor for controlling aspects of production was installed 10 years later.

Pronounced "Glen-alec-y", the Distillery was built in 1967 primarily to contribute malt to the MacKinlay blends. It was designed by architect William Delme-Evans, who also designed Tullibardine and re-designed Jura Distillery. Glenallachie was temporarily closed in the late 1980s, then acquired and reopened by Campbell Distillers at the end of the decade.

From 1958 to 1981 Glenburgie Distillery produced a second whisky called Glencraig. It was one of the four Ballantine distilleries to have Lomond stills installed. Lomond stills differ to a standard pot still as the swan neck is cylindrical in shape. There is a water jacket at the top, this controls the amount of reflux during distillation.As the characteristics of the whisky differs to that of Glenburgie they named it Glencraig. The whisky was named after the Production Director Mr William Craig, he is one of the few people to have a Single Malt Whisky named after them.

The origins of Glenlivet Distillery can be traced back to 1815 but it is well known that illicit distilling was going on long before then. In 1817 George Smith leased some land at Upper Drumin Farm, where he continued illicit distilling to supplement his crofters wage. During 1823 an Excise Act was pushed through by the Duke of Gordon - Smiths's landlord - to stop illicit distilling. Gordon then persuaded Smith to take out the first licence and he also helped to set up the distillery at Drumin. Due to the success of Glenlivet, a number of distilleries in the region appended the name Glenlivet to their own. In 1880 J.G. Smith took legal action and the court ruled that there was only one 'The Glenlivet'.

Situated within the picturesque Spey valley, Rothes is home to five distilleries all tucked along the tiny main street - unbeknown to passing visitors. Amongst these is Glenrothes hidden in a small glen on the outskirts of the village. Today Glenrothes single malt is used as the heart of Cutty Sark blended whisky.Approaching the distillery your eyes are drawn to the right where the village graveyard stretches up the hill. As whisky matures it evaporates this is known as "the angels share". Feeding off the evaporated whisky is a black sooty fungus, which gives an eiry atmosphere to the place. The blackened grave stones under the shadows of tall trees surrounded by distillery buildings.

Built by Thomas MacKenzie, it coincided with Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee which was no doubt an influencing factor when naming the distillery. With a shaky start and history, Imperial Distillery started production in the summer of 1898 only to close a year later for over 20 years. Production did recommence in 1919 but, again, for only six years. The construction of Imperial differs from other Speyside distilleries as it was built of red Aberdeen brick with an iron beam and pillar framework to make it fire resistant.Imperial closed during the 1980's. It was purchased in 1989 by Allied Distillers who, reopened the distillery in 1991. It was mothballed in 1998.

The distillery was built in 1821 by Peter Brown, the factor of the Seafield Estates of Moray and Banffshire, and is named after Linkwood House, the family home. Brown's son, William, carried on the business and rebuilt the distillery in the 1870s. One of the managers in the 1930s believed that absolutely everything in the distillery played its part in making the whisky what it was and he commanded that nothing - not even a cobweb - be removed. Had he lived long enough, he would have been dismayed in 1962 when the internal layout was radically changed and again in 1971 when a second distilling unit with two pairs of stills was built alongside the original Linkwood single-pair set-up.

There has probably been whisky made on the Macallan site, a small hill overlooking the Spey near Craigellachie, since the late 1700's. The first licensed distillation at Macallan is said to have taken place in the earliest days of legalised production, in 1824. The distillery changed hands several times throughout the 19th century and in 1894 was bought by Elgin merchant, Roderick Kemp (who also owned Talisker on Skye).Due to demand for Macallan the distillery has been modernised and extended over the years. In the 1950's the output was trebled and further increased in the 1960's.

Situated six miles southwest of Elgin is Pluscarden Abbey. Initially a Priory, it was founded by King Alexander II in 1230. Miltonduff is said to be situated on the site of the Abbey's meal mill, two miles from the Abbey. A stone from the original Abbey is retained at the distillery. As well as the distillery, the site is home to laboratories, engineering support, centralised warehousing management and the Malt Distilleries Technical Centre which provides technical and business backup to the other Chivas Brother distilleries.From 1967 to 1981, Miltonduff aslo produced a Single Malt called Mosstowie, using a 'Lomond Still'. Miltonduff is a key component of Ballantines blend.

For over 25 years Miltonduff Distillery produced 2 different Single Malt Whiskies. In 1955 due to the increased demand within Hiram Walker for different styles of whisky, a chemical engineer, Alistair Cunningham designed the Lomond Still. This type of still had a wide neck which housed three rectifying plates. These plates were used to vary the amount of reflux that took place within the still thus altering the spirit produced. The plates could either be filled with cool liquid or left dry. They could be rotated - the horizontal position would maximise reflux while the vertical position would reduce reflux. Due to increased demand for Ballantines Blend in the 1980s, the Mosstowie stills were altered to produce Miltonduff - the key component of Ballantines.

Speyburn was designed by the famous Elgin architect Charles Doig and built in 1897. As this was Queen Victoria?s diamond jubilee, the owners wanted to be in production before the year was over, so they could sell a commemorative edition in future years. In late December of that year they succeeded, but production began before the still house had doors and windows.Speyburn Distillery was the first malt distillery to use a drum-malting system, instead of a traditional floor maltings. The drum maltings operated until 1968, when United Distillers centralised malted barley production. In 1992 Inver House Distillers purchased the distillery.

Strathmill Distillery is situated on the southern side of Keith on the banks of the River Isla, away from public view. The distillery started life as Strathisla Mills in 1823. In 1891 the mill was rebuilt as a distillery called Glenisla - Glenlivet. In 1895 it was purchsed by W & A Gilbey and renamed Strathmill. Many years later, in 1962, the distillery was taken over by United Distillers & Vintners (UDV). Major reconstruction began on the distillery in the late 1960's, with the maltings being converted into a warehouse and the double kilns into a malt storage area. Condensers were also fitted to replace the worm tubs and 2 additional stills were installed. Purifiers are used in the lyne arm of each still, this helps to produce a lighter spirit ideal for blending.

Tamnavulin comes from the Gaelic meaning "mill on the hill". Built in 1966, it was mothballed less than 30 years later in early 1995. The distillery has 6 stills and is completely computerised. Although the distillery and cask warehouses are of modern design, the Visitors Centre is a converted mill house. The Visitors Centre remained open for a short time after the distillery was mothballed, sadly both are now closed. It is the only distillery positioned on the River Livet, from which the cooling waters are drawn.The distillery resumed production in 2007, when Whyte and MacKay was purchased by the Indian United Breweries Group.

Tormore Distillery was founded in 1958, and was the first new distillery to be built in Speyside during the 20th century. Tormore was intended to be a 'showpiece', the distillery has crisp white buildings with ornate features, a fountain and curling lake and decorative landscaping. In the 1970's the numbers of stills was increased from four to eight.