Glenmorangie Scotch Whisky.

Glenmorangie Whisky Distillery Information

Founded in the early 1820s by David Sutherland

Region Highland region, Northern district

Water Source Tarlogie Springs

Glenmorangie Whisky Distilling Equipment

8 Swan necked stills (tallest in Scotland)

Matured principally in American oak bourbon barrels The Distillery was the first to introduce finishes other than sherry

Glenmorangie Whisky Distillery History

Glenmorangie means "Glen of Tranquillity" in Gaelic. Illicit distilling here dates back to 1700's an inventory of goods, from a will recorded in 1640, provides the first direct evidence for the making of whisky in the Tain area. The document refers to early distilling equipment “ane aquavitie celler (spirit stand) with ye glesses... ane aquavitie pott with the graith ane brewing panne... three aquavitie rubbures”.

The earliest documented reference to distillation on the site was in 1703, in the 'Tain and Balnagown Documents', and in the 1730s a brewery had been established

David Sutherland established tain’s first legal distillery in the early 1820s on a site at the west end of the town. On the 23rd June 1826, the Inverness Journal advertised his property for sale, describing it as 'small but commodious'. Unfortunately for Sutherland, he failed to find a buyer, it appears he went out of business soon after.

Matherson brothers founded the Glenmorangie Distillery in 1843; however rather than buy brand new stills, second-hand swan necked stills that had been used in a gin distillery were used. This is why the stills have narrow, arching swan necks. They are exactly 16 feet 10¼ inches tall (5.14 metres): making them the tallest stills in Scotland.

During 1883 Mathersons rebuild the distillery and in 1887 the Glenmorangie Distillery Co Ltd was created

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were billeted at the Distillery, during the First World War (1914-18) the malt barns converted into makeshift barracks for the duration of each summer. Before the war ended, its largest single customer, Macdonald and Muir, acquired Glenmorangie.

By the beginning of the 1920s, the Distillery was in production again with its full complement of Sixteen Men. The distillery was closed between 1931-36 Down turn in the market and during the Second World War (1940-45)

Securing a water supply had always been a problem; the Tarlogie Springs belonged to the local Laird, who leased the right to draw water from the springs to the Distillery However, the Laird could use the land surrounding the springs for any purpose - a situation that could have jeopardised the quality or quantity of the water. In the 1980s, there was a threat of a building development near the springs, so Macdonald and Muir acted to make sure that the water would be safe by buying 650 acres of the land surrounding the Tarlogie Springs. and secure the distilleries future. 1980 Stills increased from 2-4

In 1990 additional stills were added to the still house (now 8) to keep up with worldwide demand for Glenmorangie Single Malt. Then, in 2002, two more washbacks were introduced as demand continued to increase.

The Distillery continues to maintain the tradition of only employing Sixteen Men, who work around the clock, all year round, only stopping each year for Christmas and essential maintenanc

Published 8 times a year Whisky Magazine is the perfect complement to the dram in your glass. Every issue brings you fascinating articles on the art, science and romance of the 'water of life', plus page after page of tasting notes

Click Image for more details or to Subscibe