Glengyle

Introduction:

Glengyle Distillery, located in Campbeltown, produces whisky marketed under the name Kilkerran, as the rights to the Glengyle name belong to Loch Lomond Distillers. The name Kilkerran is derived from the early Christian settlement of Saint Kerran, upon which Campbeltown was built.

The Kilkerran Range:

The initial release of Kilkerran Single Malt Whisky was a three-year-old expression in 2007. Each year thereafter, the distillery released a new Kilkerran Work in Progress bottling, with each batch being one year older than the previous one. In 2016, Kilkerran introduced the 12-year-old as its standard product. Kilkerran Single Malt offers a slightly smoky character and features fruity lemon notes, vanilla, honey, butterscotch, and malt.

The Production:

Glengyle Distillery operates at a capacity far below its full potential of 170,000 liters. In 2015, the distillery aimed for a production volume of 30,000 liters. The malt used for Kilkerran is currently sourced from the sister distillery, Springbank.

The Mashing:

Glengyle Distillery’s malting floors have not yet been recommissioned, so the malt is provided by Springbank. The barley undergoes steeping and germination, followed by drying over peat fire and hot air. The malt’s phenol content reaches 12-15 ppm. Mashing takes place in a semi-lauter mash tun manufactured by Forsyths of Rothes.

The Fermentation:

After mashing, the resulting wort is fermented in four washbacks made of larch wood, with the aid of yeast. The fermentation process takes 70 to 110 hours, resulting in beer with an alcohol content of 5% ABV.

The Distillation:

Glengyle acquired its distillation equipment from the defunct Ben Wyvis Distillery. The wash still holds 18,000 liters, while the converted spirit still has a capacity of 15,000 liters. The first distillation run produces alcohol at 21-23% ABV, while the heart of the second run is collected at 68% ABV.

The Storage:

New make spirit is filled into casks at 63.5% ABV after dilution with water from Crosshill Loch. Bourbon and Sherry casks are predominantly used, with occasional use of port, Madeira, or rum casks. The filled casks are transported to Springbank Distillery’s warehouses, which include traditional dunnage warehouses and racked warehouses.

The History:

Glengyle Distillery was founded by William Mitchell in 1872, making it a part of the Mitchell family’s whisky legacy in Campbeltown. The distillery changed hands multiple times and faced economic challenges, ultimately closing in 1925. After unsuccessful attempts at reopening, Glengyle was purchased by Hedley Wright, a descendant of William Mitchell and owner of Springbank Distillery. Glengyle Distillery reopened in 2004, with the first Kilkerran new make distilled on March 25, 2004.

The Visitor Centre:

Glengyle Distillery can be toured twice a day from Monday to Saturday.
The tours start at 11.00 a.m. and 02.30 p.m.
Admission is £7.00 including a tasting dram.
There are additional offers for tours or tastings, which can also be combined with visits to Springbank Distillery.
Please consult the distillery in advance under 44 (0)1586 551710 or info@kilkerransinglemalt.com.

Visitor information:

Mitchell’s Glengyle Ltd.
9 Bolgam Street
Campbeltown
PA28 6HZ
Tel: +44 (0)1586-552009
Email: info@kilkerransinglemalt.com