Glen Garioch Scotch Whisky

Glen Garioch Whisky Distillery Information

Founded in 1794 by John Manson

Location Highland region, Eastern district North of Aberdeen

Water source Springs on Percock Hill

Glen Garioch Whisky Distilling Equipment

Stainless steel mash tun,

8 Stainless steel washbacks,

1 wash still with 2 smaller spirit stills

Matured in American oak bourbon and European sherry casks

Glen Garioch Whisky Distillery History

John Manson (founder) with his younger brother Alexander in 1794 establishes the Glen Garioch distillery and brewery on the site of an old tannery, which had a water supply from the Percock Hills. A statistical account of Meldrum written by Rev Thomas Tait in1794 states there are a distillery and brewery, lately established in it and both are in a thriving way.

Thomas Simpson purchased both the distillery and the brewery in 1798 and in 1827 Ingram, Lamb & Co became new owners and expanded the buildings.

The era of 2 names, in 1837 the Strathmeldrum Distillery Company bought Glen Garioch headed by John Manson Junior, son of founder. The distillery it self was still called Glen Garioch. In a Memorandum of John Manson’s stock in June 1838, shortly before his death, records £1,400 lent to John Manson Junior to purchase Glen Garioch.

During 1856 The Inverury and Old Meldrum Junction Railway opened nearby so the whisky casks no longer had to travel to Aberdeen by ox cart.

JG Thomson & Co of Leith (principal Joseph Thomson) becomes the new owner in 1884.Two years later William Sanderson of Leith, of VAT 69 fame, purchased a 50% interest in JG Thomson & Co. At the time twelve men are employed under manager Jimmy Shand, who starts pig farm in distillery grounds. Local peat dug.

After 35 years of Sanderson family half-ownership, (1921) William Mark Sanderson, son of William Sanderson along with other investors, form the Glengarioch Distillery Co Ltd to take 100% ownership. The distillery is sold in 1933 to Booth’s Distilleries Ltd. then five years later in.1937 Scottish Malt Distillers (SMD) as part of DCL, purchased Glen Garioch.

World War II: The Distillery was closed for the duration of the Second World War, some buildings used as army dormitories. SMD restored production in 1946.

Due to a limited water source SMD closed the distillery in 1968 and offered it for sale. Two years later Stanley P Morrison Ltd pays £150,000 for the distillery and low-level production is resumed.

During 1972 Glen Garioch becomes the first distillery in Scotland to gas fire its stills.

Later on in November: Glen Garioch is released as a single malt Previously only used in blends such as Bell’s, Grant’s Standfast and Drambuie. Also a new water source is discovered at Coutens Farm.

Planning permission was obtained in 1977 for the greenhouse project to make use of waste heat from the distillation process. The following year the Greenhouse project supervised by BBC Scotland’s Jim McColl is opened this attracts publicity and brings streams of visitors. The distillery expands from 2 to 3 stills and a visitor centre is opened.

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In July 1994 Stanley P Morrison Ltd is acquired by Suntory Ltd; they mothball the distillery the following year. However in 1997 the distillery is returned to the now Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Suntory Ltd, and the distillery is renovated and re-opened.

Glen Garioch Distillery Bottlings

Glen Garioch 8 Year Old

Glen Garioch 10 Year Old

Glen Garioch 12 Year Old

Glen Garioch 15 Year Old

Glen Garioch 16 Year Old

Glen Garioch 21 Year Old

Glen Garioch 200th Anniversary

Various Glen Garioch special cask bottlings

Glen Garioch Whisky Independent Bottlings  

Cadenhead’s,

Duncan Taylor "Cask Strength"

Maverick (Murray McDavid),

Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing),

Platinum (Douglas Laing),

Provenance (Douglas Laing),

Signatory

Whisky Galore (Duncan Taylor).

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