Distilleries
Glenkinchie
Published 13/08/2025
In 2017, the Glenkinchie Distillery celebrated its 180th birthday. The distillery near the capital of Scotland is one of the last in the Lowlands. It is located on the way from Northern England to Edinburgh on the beautiful east coast of Scotland. Due to its proximity to Edinburgh, the whisky produced there is also called Edinburgh Malt.
Glenlivet
Published 13/08/2025
This was the first ever Highland distillery to obtain a license much to the anger of neighbouring illicit distillers, who considered this treacherous behaviour. The resultant threats to George Smith and his distillery were so numerous that he took to carrying a pair of pistols, presented to him by the Laird of Aberlour, with him night and day. Robert Lockhart in ‘Scotch: The Whisky of Scotland in Fact and Story’ recounts only one story of the guns ever being used and even then preventatively!
Glenlochy
Published 13/08/2025
A short but sad story. Glenlochy was one of the few Malt whisky distilleries in the western Highlands of Scotland. Glenlochy was founded in Inverlochy, near Fort William in 1898. The city of Fort William lies on the dividing line between the Western Highlands and the Northern Highlands. Once home to three distilleries, Glenlochy, the Nevis, and Ben Nevis, only Ben Nevis distillery is still active today. The Glenlochy Distillery started producing whisky in 1901 but fell silent in 1919 reopening in 1924 but closing again after only 2 years.
Glenskiach
Published 13/08/2025
Approximately 15 miles to the North of Inverness in Evanton near the river of Skiach that runs in the South of the town the distillery was built by John Ross in 1896 with a capital of £18,000. Between 1908-10, it seems to have experienced financial difficulties, having to borrow money. It stayed opened during the WWI and made profit records in 1920 (£4,720), but went in voluntary liquidation in 1926 for unknown reasons.
Glentauchers
Published 13/08/2025
A seldom seen distillery perhaps most remarkable for its repeated survival against the odds, founded by the Blender James Buchanan and his partner W.P. Lowrie, neither of whom had ever made whisky during the heart of the ‘Pattison whisky crisis’ the distillery was one of only a handful to survive. Fast forward to the 1980s and the distillery was mothballed by DCL only to be rescued by Caledonian Malt Whisky Distillers.