Glenturret whisky distillery
Glenturret is one of Scotlands youngest ‘old distilleries’, while distillation occurred on or near the site since 1717 far prior to the distillery’s claimed foundation in 1775. This claim relates to an illegal farm distillery established on the Hosh which would become licensed for distillation in 1818.
However the Hosh farm distillery closed repeatedly over the next few decades and it was only following the closing of another distillery and the acquisition of it’s brand in 1875 that the distillery became Glenturret.
However this distillery was closed and was dismantled in 1929. The few dilapidated buildings purchased by James Fairlie in 1957 represent the only relationship to the earlier distillery. In spite of this Glenturret is generally regarded as the oldest working distillery in Scotland
In fairness, while this might sound a somewhat dubious claim, given the number of changes to equipment, complete redevelopments and whisky styles few distilleries can present a more reasonable claim
Glenturret factsheet
| Name | Pronounced | AKA | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenturret | glen*turr*et | Highlands | |
| Country of Origin | Status | Active | Whisky Type |
| Scotland | Active | 1763 - Present | Malt |
| Website | Tours Available | Owned by | Parent Group |
| Glenturret | Tour Link | Highland Distillers |
What Glenturret makes
Whisky and Gin
- The Glenturret 12
- The Glenturret Triple Wood
Shop: online and at the distillery.
Glenturret Timeline:
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- 1717Parish records report illicit distillation in the area
- 1775An illicit farm distillery is established in the Hosh
- 1816The Small Stills Act is introduced, making distillation in stills of 48 gallons and below illegal
- 1818John Drummon is granted the first license for distillation at 'the Hosh distillery'
- 1826A nearby distillery is established named 'Glenturret'
- 1842John Drummon is declared bankrupt in March 1842
- 1852John McCallum takes over the Hosh distillery, the Gleturret distillery folds
- 1874John McCallum is declared bankrupt
- 1875Thomas Stewart acquires the distillery and the name Glenturret. The Hosh distillery is expanded, modernised and rebranded Glenturret
- 1887Alfred Bernard visited the distillery recording the 'inner workings of the Distillery are of the oldest fashion, plan, and type' even for the time
- 1896The Glenturret Distillery Co. is established
- 1907The distillery is acquired by Mitchell Brothers Ltd. of Glasgow
- 1921Production stops and the distillery is closed
- 1929Glenturret distillery is dismantled and Mitchell Brothers Ltd. Go into administration
- 1957James Fairlie acquires the dilapidated distillery site and Glenturret brand
- 1959The new and old buildings are refitted incorporating the mash tun and stills from Tullibardine (itself undergoing a refit)
- 1960The new distillery becomes operational and spirit begins to flow
- 1964Fairlie showed the British Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, round the distillery
- 1981Rémy Cointreau one of the distilleries main customers takes over the distillery, the distillery and its visitor centre are expanded
- 1990In 1990, ownership passed to Highland Distillers Co Plc.
- 1993Glenturret joins Highland Distilleries Co plc
- 1998The company is renamed Highland Distillers Ltd
- 1999Highland Distillers Ltd is acquired by the Edrington Group Ltd
- 2002The £2.5million Famous Grouse Experience visitor centre is opened
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Useful Glenturret links:
Can I tour Glenturret?
Yes Glenturret distillery is tourable. On Trip Advisor the distillery has been rated as excellent by 1,071 of 1,552 tours to date. This gives Glenturret an overall rating of 4.5
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