Glenfarclas
Famous (or infamous) for being the preferred tipple of Margaret Thatcher and the cask that kickstarted the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Glenfarclas is a Speyside distillery known primarily for it’s almost exclusive use of Sherry casks. The distilleries bottles are also on occasion bottled as Blairfindy. Located at the foot of Ben Rinnes, the distillery was originally licensed in 1836 by Robert Hay, but in 1865 John Grant purchased the distillery for a fee of £511 and it has been owned and managed by 6 different generations of the Grant family since.
Distillery Factsheet
| Name | Pronounced | AKA | Region | Country of Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenfarclas | glen*fark*lass | Speyside | Scotland | |
| Status | Active | Whisky Type | Website | Tours Available |
| Active | 1836 - Present | Malt | Glenfarclas | Tour Link |
| Manager | Distiller | Blender | Owned by | Parent Group |
| George Grant |
Glenfarclas Timeline:
1791: Evidence that the distillery first started operations sometime before 1791
1836: The farm distillery was purchased by Robert Hay
1865: John Grant purchased the distillery for a fee of £511
1895: Glenfarclas becomes part of the Glenfarclas-Glenlivet Distillery Co, jointly owned by the Grants and Pattison, Elder & Co
1898: The Pattison whisky crisis results in their bankruptcy the distillery is fully bought out by the Grants
1947: Glenfarclas became and private limited company
1960: Glenfarclas expands the distillery to 4 stills
1968: Glenfarclas becomes the first distilleries to release a cask strength malt
1972: The distilleries floor maltings are decommisioned
1973: Glenfarclas becomes one of the first distilleries to open a visitor centre
1976: Glenfarclas expands the distillery to 6 stills