Glen Garioch

Introduction:

An Eastern Highland Gem

Glen Garioch Distillery, the most easterly Scotch distillery in the world, offers a selection of official and independent bottlings. The official range includes 8-year-old, 12-year-old, 15-year-old Founder’s Reserve (without age statement), and 12-year-old expressions. Vintage bottles are occasionally available but have limited availability. Independent bottlings, such as the well-received 1991 Malt old cask by Douglas Laing & Co and the believed Glen Garioch edition of “Secret Stills” 1988 by Gordon & MacPhail, are also found. While no longer used in blends, Glen Garioch was once a significant component of the famous “VAT 69” blend.

Production:

Situated near the Percock hills in Aberdeenshire, Glen Garioch draws its water from mineral-rich burns. This water contributes to the depth of flavor in their whisky. The distillery’s production capacity stands at 1,000,000 liters of pure alcohol per year, with an actual annual production of 700,000 liters in 2014.

The Pot Stills:

Glen Garioch distills its whisky using two wash stills with capacities of 20,000 liters and 10,000 liters, respectively. They also have two spirit stills, each with an 11,000-liter capacity. The copper pot stills feature a classic Highland style with short necks and exceptionally long lyne arms, creating a unique and distinctive character. Another defining feature is the use of a lauter mash tun, resulting in fairly cloudy wort.

The Maltings:

Glen Garioch chose its location for its proximity to excellent barley from the town of Old Meldrum, known as the “Granary of Aberdeenshire”. Until 1979, they had their own floor maltings, but now they source malt locally. Glen Garioch uses unpeated malt, contributing to its distinct Highland style.

Warehouse and Aging at Glen Garioch:

With a bonded warehouse onsite, Glen Garioch employs a combination of Sherry and Bourbon casks for aging its whisky. The flat dunnage warehouses can accommodate casks stored in three layers.

History:

Dating back to 1797, Glen Garioch is one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries. After changing hands multiple times in the early 19th century, it returned to the Manson family in 1837. In 1884, it was sold to T.G. Thomson & Co and later joined by William Sanderson, owner of the North British distillery. Glen Garioch played a significant role in the creation of the “VAT 69” blend. Over the years, the distillery faced various challenges, including Prohibition and financial difficulties. It was acquired by Scottish Malt Distillers in 1937 and underwent renovations in the 1970s. Today, Glen Garioch is operated by Morrison Bowmore Distillers, owned by Suntory, a Japanese company.

Visitor’s Centre:

Glen Garioch welcomes visitors to its acclaimed visitor’s centre, offering year-round tours of the working distillery.

Visitor information:

Glen Garioch Distillery
Distillery Road
Oldmeldrum
Aberdeenshire
AB51 0ES
Tel: +44 (0)1651-873450
Email: visitor.centre@glengarioch.com