Glendronach

GlenDronach is a Speyside distillery in the eastern Highlands (Forgue Valley, near Huntly)... Read more

GlenDronach is a Speyside distillery in the eastern Highlands (Forgue Valley, near Huntly). In Gaelic, its name means "Valley of the Brambles".

The GlenDronach story

... Read more

GlenDronach is a Speyside distillery in the eastern Highlands (Forgue Valley, near Huntly). In Gaelic, its name means "Valley of the Brambles".

The GlenDronach story

Founded in 1826 on the Boynsmill estate, GlenDronach was one ofScotland's first official distilleries. It was established by James Allardice to produce his Guid GlenDronach whisky. In 1830, it was taken over by Walter Scott, then owner of the Teaninich distillery. Unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1837, it was rebuilt in 1852. It became the largest official distillery in the 1860s.

The horrors of the First World War forced it to close again in 1916, until a certain Captain Charles Grant reopened it in 1920. He in turn sold the business to William Teacher & Sons in 1960. This marked a major revival for the company. From two to four stills, it doubled its production capacity by 1966.

In those days, all the distillery workers lived on site. Their houses still stand on the site, the most emblematic of which is Glen House. Built in 1771, it was formerly known as Boynsmill, the estate on which it was located.

In 1968, GlenDronach was no longer just a distillery supplying blend houses. It was now developing its own brand of Single Malt. It was mothballed in 1996 by Allied Distillers, its last purchaser, who eventually brought it back into service in 2002.

2005 was another important turning point, as the Pernod group took over. It entrusted management to the Chivas brothers. The distillery switched from coal-fired to steam-fired stills.

In 2008, BenRiach acquired the GlenDronach facilities and brand, before itself being absorbed by Brown-Forman in 2016. The American giant is then at the helm of GlenDronach, BenRiach, and Glenglassaugh (but also Jack Daniel's and Woodford Reserve, among others).

GlenDronach production

GlenDronach uses water from the Dronac Burn, the river that runs alongside the distillery. It dries its malts partly with peat, using the traditional method. Distillation takes place in two pairs of open-hearth stills.

Rachel Barrie, the company's master blender, is in charge of aging and blending. GlenDronach specializes in the finest Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks, and has made them its trademark. The company also bottles a number of single casks that showcase the quality of its casks.

The distillery's secrets also include a "magic cellar", where whisky matures faster than in other cellars.

The regular range includes Peated, The Hielan 8 yo,Original 12 yo, Revival 15 yo, Allardice 18 yo and Parliament 21 yo. There are also limited editions such as the Wood Finish series, raw casks and vintage single casks. Among these limited editions, some are even rarer and more prestigious: such as Glendronach Grandeur or 1991 Kingsman. Read less

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