Glen Scotia, one of three distilleries left in Campbeltown, was built in 1832 as Scotia by Stewart, Galbraith & Co.1,2,3 It returned to fully staffed production in 1999.3,4,5 The Loch Lomond Group has owned it since 2014.3,6,7
Very good review score, 85 out of 100Very good85/100
A complex nose balances chimney ashes, herbal notes and fruit sweetness, while the palate brings red berries, roasted walnuts, bitter chocolate and warming…
Very good review score, 87 out of 100Very good87/100
A sweet and peaty Glen Scotia with maritime smoke, dark fruits, smoked bacon and a red wine influence that works remarkably well.
bacon
black cherry
black pepper
brown sugar
+21 more
By Ruben
Producing, 1930–1942
Silent, 1942–1945
Producing, 1945–1984
Silent, 1984–1989
Producing, 1989–1994
Silent, 1994–1999
Producing, 1999–today
183219001950Today
Scotia
Visiting in the late 19th century, Alfred Barnard wrote that the site covered a little over two acres and had been enlarged several times.1,2,3 It was rebuilt in 1897, when plans for additions and alterations were drawn up for Stewart Galbraith & Co. Ltd.1,8 In 1919 Scotia joined West Highland Malt Distilleries, which brought together six Campbeltown distilleries to share costs and avoid closure.3,4 Five of the six failed, and in 1924 Duncan MacCallum, who had founded Glen Nevis, bought Scotia.3,4,9
Sources disagree: when Duncan MacCallum took over. This page uses 1924.
MacCallum was forced to close the distillery in 1928, and it reopened in 1930.3,4 That year MacCallum took his own life, and Bloch Brothers, which added 'Glen' to the name, bought the distillery.3,4,9 Production stopped in 1942 because of the Second World War and restarted early in 1945.9
Sources disagree: when it reopened. This page uses 1930.
In 1954 Hiram Walker & Sons Limited bought Bloch Brothers and its distillery estate.3,9 In 1955 it sold Glen Scotia to A. Gillies & Co, a Glasgow blender founded by Sir Maurice Bloch of Bloch Brothers.3,10,11 Gillies' brands included the Old Court and Scotia Royale blends.3,10,11 In 1970 Gillies became part of Amalgamated Distilled Products (ADP), which supplied bulk and bottled malt under many names.3,10,11 ADP became part of James Gulliver's Argyll Group in 1983.10
Glen Catrine and the Loch Lomond Group
In 1994 Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse, a bottling firm founded by Sandy Bulloch, bought Gibson's whisky interests after Gibson went bankrupt.3,6,10 Glen Catrine mothballed Glen Scotia, which then worked only now and then until it returned to fully staffed production under Loch Lomond Distillers in 1999.3,4,5 Iain McAlister, now distillery manager and master distiller, came to Glen Scotia in 2008; he says it was becoming almost a lost distillery.13 Production has since grown from 80,000 litres to 700,000.13 In 2014 Exponent Private Equity bought the Bulloch family's whisky business and formed the Loch Lomond Group.
Next: Glen Catrine and the Loch Lomond Group, The distillery today
In 2019 Hillhouse bought the Loch Lomond Group.5,14
The distillery today
It no longer malts its own barley; Scottish malted barley arrives each week from near Montrose.2,5,15 It uses unpeated, medium-peated and heavily-peated malt, and usually makes peated whisky for 6 weeks a year.2,3,9 Its water comes from Crosshill Loch, south of Campbeltown.9,15 Fermentation happens in 9 stainless steel washbacks, the tanks where yeast is added, with 6 inside and 3 outside.5,9,15 Fermentation lasts at least 70 hours and averages 128.8 hours.3,15,16 Short fermentations give a nutty spirit and long ones a fruity spirit.3,15,16 Its copper pot stills are one wash still, for the first distillation, and one spirit still, for the second.3,9,15 The stills have short, wide necks, and the slow double distillation helps bring out flavour and oils.9,15,16 The Whiskey Wash calls the spirit intensely fruity.16 The malt barn and warehouses have been Category B listed since 1996, which gives them legal protection.1,9
Very good review score, 85 out of 100