Lochside Scotch Whisky

Lochside Whisky Distillery Information

Founded in 1957 by Joseph W Hobbs

Location Highlands region Eastern district

Water source Underground well

Now Demolished

Lochside Whisky Distillery History

Located in Montrose in the eastern Highlands the Lockside distillery was originally built as a brewery during the 1890s on a site used from brewing since the 1700s. The water was drawn from artisan wells from under the site. The brewery was known as “Deachar ‘s Brewery” after James Deuchar & Sons ltd, of Newcastle who ran it for many years.

At some point the brewery was sold to the Scottish & Newcastle Breweries Ltd. The brewery was the only location outside Newcastle to produce Newcastle Brown Ale, The brewery’s pair of coasters taking 1000s of gallons of the ale south to Newcastle every week.

In 1957 Joseph W Hobbs, owner of the Ben Nevis Distillery, acquired the brewery and converted the premises into the Lockside distillery with both patent (grain) and pot stills (malt) Operating the distillery under Macnab Distilleries Ltd.

The distillery produced grain and malt whiskies. Joseph Hobb's who had already been involved with the grain distilleries at Hillside and Ben Nevis among others. Tended to mix the two at the point of distillation, a technique also used at his Ben Nevis Distillery.

The whisky produced was a vital component of Sandy Macnab’s blended whisky. Which was successful in the Spanish market under distribution of Destilerias y Crianzas

During 1973 Destilerias y Crianzas del Whisky S. A. of Madrid, acquired the Lochside distillery this was the first continental take over of a Scottish distillery.

On take over DYC closed down the Coffey still that produced the grain whisky to concentrate on producing Highland malt whisky that they needed for their blending operations. During this period the distillery was very productive making malt whisky for the Spanish market it also supplied Scottish blenders and bottled its own single and vatted whiskies.

However due to the takeovers and rationalisation of the industry in the 1980-90s DYC was acquired by Domecq who in turn was taken over by Hiram Walker. Who was eventually acquired by Allied Distillers in 1992.

Because of the mergers Allied Distillers owned more distilleries than they could effectively use so the Lockside distillery was closed down immediately.

The maturing stocks of whisky were distributed over the following five years the warehouse was closed in 1997 and demolished in.1999 the rest of the distillery was demolished in 2005.

Lochside Distillery Bottlings

Lochside 10 Year Old

Lochside Distillery Independent Bottlings

Berrys’ Own Selection,

Blackadder,

Cadenhead’s,

Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & MacPhail,

Lombard,

Murray McDavid,

Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing),

SMWS

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