Glenturret

Introduction:

Glenturret Distillery offers a range of official bottlings, although the selection has been streamlined in recent years. Previously, the distillery had an extensive range, including an 8-year-old, 10-year-old, 12-year-old, 15-year-old, 18-year-old, 21-year-old, 25-year-old, and various special bottlings. However, in 2009, the distillery discontinued most of these expressions and focused on a single 10-year-old bottling. Special releases from the distillery are rare, and independent bottlings have been mainly performed by Gordon & MacPhail and Signatory Vintage, with many releases originating from casks filled in the early 1990s.

Production:

Glenturret sources its water from Loch Turret, which is fed by the nearby Ben Chonzie in the Grampian Mountain range. The distillery has a relatively small production capacity of approximately 340,000 liters per year.

Pot Stills:

Glenturret’s production is driven by one wash still and one spirit still. The wash still has a capacity of 12,500 liters and features a cone shape, which is uncommon. The spirit still has a capacity of 9,000 liters and is equipped with a reflux bowl to increase reflux, resulting in a smoother whisky. Glenturret’s pot stills have unique designs, with the cone shape enhancing the quality of reflux in the necks. The condensers are located outside the stillhouse to reduce the use of cooling water.

Maltings:

Glenturret is notable for maintaining its own malting floor, a rare feature among distilleries today. The malts used in production are lightly peated, and different batches of barley are malted to varying degrees based on the preferences of the master distiller. Glenturret strives to source barley exclusively from Scotland, obtaining supplies from various locations across the country.

Warehouses:

Glenturret has six on-site dunnage warehouses with a capacity for approximately 10,000 casks. The distillery uses a combination of American and European oak casks for maturing its whisky. Spirit intended for blending purposes is typically transported off-site shortly after production.

History:

Glenturret Distillery markets itself as the oldest distillery in Scotland, although the exact founding date is unclear. The site has a rich history of both legal and illicit distillation, dating back to the 18th century. In 1775, the Hosh Distillery, an illicit operation, was established by whisky smugglers. It became legitimate in 1818 under the ownership of John Drummond. In 1826, another distillery named Glenturret was established on the site but ceased operations in 1852. In 1875, the original Hosh distillery assumed the name Glenturret under Thomas Stewart’s stewardship. Ownership of the distillery changed hands over the years until its closure in 1921. The site was used for storage until 1959 when production resumed under James Fairlie’s ownership. The distillery changed ownership several times, with Rémy-Cointreau acquiring it in 1981 and Highland Distillers in 1990. Currently, Glenturret is owned by the Erdington Group, who acquired Highland Distillers in 1992. The distillery now focuses on a single 10-year-old bottling.

Visitor’s Centre:

Glenturret is home to the Famous Grouse Experience, which is often referred to as “Whisky Disney” due to its scale. The visitor’s centre offers tours of the facilities, allowing guests to learn about the distillery’s history and whisky production process. Additionally,there is a café on-site where visitors can enjoy bar meals. The Famous Grouse Experience provides a comprehensive experience for whisky enthusiasts and tourists alike.

Visitor information:

Glenturret Distillery
Crieff
Perthshire
PH7 4HA
Tel: +44 (0)1764-656565
Email: enquiries@theglenturret.com