By Toby Marshall-Andrew August 20, 2024

The Distilleries of Scotland

Whisky distilling boasts a rich and vibrant history. In the absence of modern painkillers, whisky served as a go-to remedy for Scots over the centuries. 

Whisky distilling boasts a rich and vibrant history. In the absence of modern painkillers, whisky served as a go-to remedy for Scots over the centuries, frequently prescribed by doctors for various ailments. It’s no surprise that whisky translates to ‘the water of life’. This widespread use inevitably caught the eye of successive governments, leading to high taxes. Consequently, during the 18th and early 19th centuries, whisky distilling was largely an illicit activity.

Annandale Distillery, Dumfries and Galloway

We start our journeys around the distilleries of Scotland, appropriately enough, at 'A', with Annandale Distillery, nestled in picturesque hills of Annan. With a history dating back to 1836. Many Scottish distilleries have tales of their whisky being smuggled across hills, evading the excise men. Annan is no exception, with stories of local smugglers being apprehended while attempting to transport whisky across the border to England. A significant change occurred in 1823 with the passing of the Excise Act, which legalized whisky distilling once more. Shortly after this, the Annandale Distillery emerged, operating from around 1830 until just after the First World War, spanning approximately 90 years.

Founded in 1836 by George Donald, Annandale Distillery quickly gained recognition for its exceptional whiskies.

George Donald, an excise officer, was posted to Annan in 1830. His mother, who was still living in Aberdeen, apparently thought George was being sent to the end of the world! George Donald rented the Warmanbie Home Farm from the Mackenzie family, and soon after established the Annandale Distillery Company. Annandale Distillery quickly gained recognition for its exceptional whiskies. However, the distillery's fortunes fluctuated over the years, facing closures and changes in ownership. By 1918, Annandale fell silent, its stills dormant and its legacy seemingly forgotten.

In 2007, Professor David Thomson and Teresa Church embarked on a remarkable journey to revive Annandale Distillery. Driven by their passion for Scotch whisky and a deep respect for its traditions, they meticulously restored the distillery to its former glory. The project involved painstaking research, careful reconstruction, and the installation of state-of-the-art equipment, all while preserving the distillery's historic charm. In 2014, the distillery was re-opened. 

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Under the stewardship of Professor David Thomson and Teresa Church, Annandale Distillery has been revitalized, producing award-winning single cask single malt Scotch whiskies that capture the essence of its rich heritage. Today, Annandale Distillery produces a range of exceptional single cask single malt Scotch whiskies with two of their most celebrated expressions are Man O'Sword and Man O'Words. 

28 6 21 Annandale0116 Inside Annandale Distillery

Annandale now has branched out into further attractions, with the Maltings Coffee shop, and also is host to a variety of events, including for example a Carruthers clan gathering taking place at the distillery, which we will be attending in August 2024. 

Site Image 1 Annandale Courtyard

Angus Alchemy; 'the disruptor'

We continue with 'A', and move east to Angus Alchemy. Nestled in the heart of Angus near Carnoustie, Angus Alchemy was set up in 2022 and officially opened their distillery in 2023. 

IMG 5251 wpcf 726x484 Angus Alchemy

It all started with 3 guys, Campbell Archibald, Phil Paton, and Martin Brown looking to make gin in their back garden in a shed. 

20230131 Angus Alchemy PR 6 PR 48843526 2k5lay102 Phil, Campbell, and Martin.

After spending a lot of time in America, they then had the idea to make Moonshine incorporating Scottish flavours, using locally sourced ingredients where possible. Whilst experimenting with different traditional recipes, the Clootie and Cranachan Moonshines were born. Initial feedback was so positive that the decision was made to show them off to the world and try to sell them to the public.

As the idea started to come to life, a well known, funky, and unusual building that was previously a caravan repair shop, came up for sale near to Carnoustie. 

Angus alchemy 3 Inside Angus Alchemy

As the idea started to come to life a well known, funky, and unusual building that was previously a Caravan Repair Shop came up for sale near to Carnoustie. The guys found this impossible to turn down given its potential, and before they knew it, they had their very first distillery, to create and make the Moonshine dream come to life, and bring 1920’s prohibition America to the Angus area.

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The green shed (as it is fondly known) was given a refit with a moonshine village being built inside, and the stills 'Ann' and 'Gus' installed to create the awesome distillery. Angus Alchemy are quite clearly shaking up what it looks and feels like to be a distillery; the rock music is always on in the background, and they clearly pride themselves in providing a tasting experience like no other. 

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Since Angus Alchemy opened they have won several awards for their products, even exceeding the vivid imagination and expectations of the distillery’s founders. They are now focussed on launching into retail and wholesale, whilst continuing to welcome as many people as they can to the distillery. 

If you haven’t been yet then you’re definitely missing out…..come on in, the Moonshine’s lovely!!

You may already know as well, they're the distillers of our own tipple of choice, supporting our chosen charity, My Name'5 Doddie, with the 'Mistaken Identity' Doddie Moon5hine.

AA Bottles Doddie Moonshine W 1024x1024 Angus Alchemy's Doddie Moon5hine

They regularly see visitors from all over the world and love seeing their Moonshine family grow locally and wider afield. If you haven’t been yet then you’re definitely missing out…..come on in, the Moonshine’s lovely!!

If you want to take a look at Angus Alchemy, their website can be found here

 

The Scottish Borders' Very Own Whisky Distillery

We now move east, and to 'B' (kind of!) for the distillery based very near to our own HQ, in the Scottish Borders. Hundreds of years ago the Scottish Borders was thriving with whisky distilleries a major contributor to the rural economy and livelihoods of local people, but tax men sent by the English to collect duties forced the distilleries to re-locate to the highlands, a more remote region where whisky production could continue unhindered. 

July 2018 saw the grand opening of The Borders Distillery in the historical town of Hawick. A very exciting development as there has not been a whisky distillery in the Scottish Borders since 1837. 

The Borders Distillery is owned by The Three Stills Company (TTSC), founded in 2013 and made up of four men who previously worked as executives for William Grant & Sons. The company feel strongly about supporting the local economy and respecting the history of the historic town of Hawick, and this is very apparent from the way the building has been restored to the links with the local high school to bring in young people. The distillery originally set out to create 19 new jobs, bring tourism to the local area through the distillery tours, and as they only use barley grown in the Scottish Borders within a 30 mile radius this is a truly local affair. With a tasting area, and super smart bar upstairs visitors can enjoy a dram in comfort after their tour to learn all about the production process. Every member of staff at the distillery takes their turn to deliver tours adding another different element to their day and allowing them to share their passion and knowledge of the process. John's passion for bringing young people into the business and giving everyone the opportunity to train to be fully fledged distillers was evident and it was good to see a mix of male and female staff in what is traditionally a male dominated profession.

The Borders Distillery Founders Lo Resjpeg compressor Borders Distillery in Hawick

We thoroughly enjoyed learning about Mashing (where the starch is broken down into fermentable sugars), then Wort (the beige-coloured sugary liquid). A cloudy wort containing husks and flour from the barley gives you a malty, nutty and spicy spirit whereas a clear wort gives you spirit with less cereal character. There was a lot of temperature taking and the smell made me want to have a drink, but this is a slow process so we must be patient. It is ironic that this old building was previously owned by five Irishmen and home to the Hawick Temperance Society and today it is producing alcohol. The 19th century Temperance movement advocated against excess drunkenness and promoted abstinence from alcohol. The Hawick Total Abstinence Society was founded in 1838, with members pledging to avoid all intoxicating beverages.

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It is ironic that this old building was previously owned by five Irishmen and home to the Hawick Temperance Society and today it is producing alcohol. The Society was founded in 1838, with members pledging to avoid all intoxicating beverages.

The distillery started operating on 1st May 2018 and it takes a minimum of 3 years in cask before any whisky can legally be sold. But as all whisky connoisseurs will attest, the longer you wait the better it tastes. In the interim TTSC created a new blend of whisky called Clan Fraser which will be the first blend to flow through the pipes. This blend was inspired by the roots of the company, as the Fraser family settled in the Borders after travelling from France over 900 years ago. It will reflect the spirit of the Borders with a taste that will be both honeyed and buttery, with hints of cinnamon spice and vanilla. Amongst all the whisky, the unique Carterhead Stills (which use steam to create amazing flavours) are already producing the Puffing Billy vodka and Kerr's gin, to the delight of us here at ScotlandShop. Kerr's is the only Scottish Gin made with malted barley spirit. Named after William Kerr, born in Hawick in 1779, and one of the 19th century's most accomplished plant hunters and botanists.

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The Glenturret - Perthshire

In 1763, a rental document of Sir Patrick Murray of Ochertyre, refers to Thurot Distillery, giving rise to the claim that The Glenturret is Scotland's oldest working distillery.

DJI 0155 The Glenturret Distillery

Moving over west now to Perthshire, and leaping to 'G'. Having been visited down through the centuries by writers and poets, including Robert Burns, feted by Prime Ministers, Princes, and home to a long honour roll of skilled and dedicated distillers, The Glenturret Distillery has long stood proud at the heart of Scotch Whisky country since 1763. 

DJI 0018 Glenturret Distillery in the hills of Crieff and countryside

Hidden in a secluded location in the ‘Hosh’, Crieff, deep in the Perthshire countryside, flanked by high hills and perched on the bank of the river Turret, sits The Glenturret Distillery. Steam rising from the still gives the distillery a sacred, magical air. It is a place unfettered by technology, fads, or impatience – here, time-worn experience is highly valued and respect for the craft of whisky-making by hand and heart practiced and preached.

Screenshot 2024 09 12 130954 1763 the first record

In 1763, a rental document of Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre refers to Thurot Distillery, the earliest known name for The Glenturret. The Murrays of Ochtertyre were a baronial family that owned extensive lands and property that they would rent out to tenants. This gives rise to the claim that The Glenturret is Scotland's oldest working distillery.

126381 Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre

In 1814, the Murray family, sold Thurot Distillery to Thomas MacInnes, who renamed it The Hosh Distillery. It remained The Hosh until 1873, when The Glenturret name was introduced. Around this time MacInnes' uncle Thomas McComish also started to operate the nearby mill as a distillery. It is likely that uncle and nephew worked closely together to run both operations, they were collaborators, competitors but most of all, dedicated whisky makers. 

The Ochtertyre Agreement granted the distillery explicit permission to use both water from Loch Turret and peat from the riverbank in its production.

In 1825, seven years after purchasing the Hosh Distillery, local distillers and grain merchants John and Hugh Drummond secured the Ochtertyre Agreement, which granted the distillery explicit permission to use both water from Loch Turret and peat from the riverbank in its production. Being passionate pioneers, securing the best quality ingredients, understanding the importance of the terroir and obsessive around detail, the brothers were important in setting the foundations of the crucial elements of today's whisky.  

0acbc57af8a5282df2a1d781ea57a82b91bd094f The Mitchell Brothers

By the late 19th century, two more brothers were at the helm of The Glenturret. David and William Mitchell were Scots-born whisky merchants with global ambitions. In 1886 they purchased Connswater Distillery in Belfast, one of the largest in the British Isles at the time, and in 1890, they added The Glenturret to their portfolio. Soon, this famed family of distillers, merchants, and blenders were exporting their whisky to Australia, the USA, and South Africa.

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The Mitchell brothers passed the business on to their respective sons, who ran the distillery as a family business until the challenging times of the 1920s. High duty rates, alcohol prohibition in the USA, and a growing support for the temperance movement saw the virtual collapse of the Scottish whisky industry and by 1923, production at The Glenturret had stopped. While the distillery was silent, it was reported that 96,000 gallons of whisky continued to mature in its warehouses. A small, dedicated team continued to look after this precious stock, whilst maintaining the distillery for future generations.

In 1980, James Fairlie established a distillery visitor centre, one of the first in Scotland.

In 1957, James Fairlie purchased The Glenturret Distillery, which had been silent for over 30 years. Fairlie was a visionary with the ambition to preserve the traditional methods of distilling and to grow the appreciation for whisky. He sought to bring back the magic of the past and reinstated the original distilling equipment. James Fairlie subsequently led the distillery for over 20 years as both Director and Master Distiller.

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James Fairlie believed The Glenturret's exceptional whisky-making heritage should be celebrated. In 1980, he established a distillery visitor centre, one of the first in Scotland. In the early years, one visitor described The Glenturret as 'the nearest thing to a one-man distillery in Scotland.' 11 years later in 1991, the distillery welcomed its millionth visitor.

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In 2014, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the distillery during an official tour of Scotland. Known as "the Earl and Countess of Strathearn" in Scotland, William and Kate enjoyed a dram - and also hand-filled and signed a bottle, which is now stored at the distillery in preparation for future auction.

Legacy elm 34119671 Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Glenturret

In September 2022, decanter #1 of 150 of The Glenturret 50 Years Old Release, was auctioned off by Sotheby's as part of their 'Whisky in Lalique' auction. The final auction price of the decanter and bespoke artwork from Matthew Draper sold for £63,000, presented in a bespoke black case with mother-of-pearl inlays.

Glenturret50 002 50 year old whisky from The Glenturret Distillery with a crystal decanter produced by luxury French crystal house, Lalique

The distillery continues to expand and provide all manner of additional reasons to visit and stay, with the distillery shop, Lalique boutique, Lalique whisky bar, Glenturrret Cafe, and the introduction of the Michelin starred Lalique Restaurant too. 

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The 25 cover restaurant promises to deliver a gastronomic experience, with a seasonal tasting menu, created to highlight produce sources from the local terroir. Diners will be taken on a culinary journey nestled at the foot of the rolling hills of Crieff, alongside the river Turret. 

 

Kingsbarns Distillery - Fife

Nestled alongside is Darnley’s Gin Cottage, with its botanical garden full of plants and herbs, cultivated for creating gin recipes

We now head directly east to St Andrews way, for K, and Kingsbarns Distillery, a family owned distillery in Fife. 

Ewanharvey kingsbarns2023 0353 1 Barley fields surrounding Kingsbarns

Kingsbarns filled its first cask in 2015 and its single malt releases have enjoyed a growing set of loyal followers, as well as awards. The family-owned distillery sits in a beautifully restored farm steading, surrounded by barley fields, bordered by woodland, with a view of the sea. The visitor centre opened in November 2014, offering whisky tours and tastings, with a café and shop.

Distilery at Night Kingsbarns at night.

Nestled alongside is Darnley’s Gin Cottage, with its botanical garden full of plants and herbs, cultivated for creating gin recipes and distilling Darnley’s London Dry gin. 

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Inside the gin cottage, as well as ‘Dorothy’, the 350 litre gin still, you will find the gin school and the blending room.

GIN COTTAGE EXT L Darnley's Gin Cottage

Proudly independent, both distilleries are owned by the Wemyss Family, who have lived and worked in Fife for centuries. It was the Wemyss who provided the backing for what had started out as caddy Doug Clement’s dream. Doug had his eye on the dilapidated farm steading nearby Kingsbarns Golf Links where he worked, and recognised that the millions of visitors to St Andrews, the ‘home of golf,’ were lacking a nearby distillery to visit. The village of Kingsbarns itself was originally an agricultural settlement surrounded by arable farmland. The origins of the name come from the location of the barns used to store local grain, before being moved inland to Falkland Palace, a historic royal residence of Kings and Queens.

Kingsbarns Whisky Release 0184 2 Kingsbarns stills

This agricultural story continues today, with the fields surrounding the distillery providing the barley for the whisky. The mineral-rich water comes from an aquifer below the building. Kingsbarns single malt whisky is crafted with time and care, to create the lightest, sweetest Lowland-style spirit. The barrels are hand-selected for the all-important maturation. 

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For Darnley’s gin, only the superior London Dry method is used, so no colours or flavourings can be added post-distillation. Carefully balanced recipes, inspired by the surrounding sea and woodland, using home-grown botanicals where possible, produce a truly ‘nature-distilled’ gin.

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You can take a look at Kingsbarns distillery and Darnley's Gin Cottage here.