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Glengoyne distillery has often been described as Scotland's most
beautiful distillery. It's not hard to see why... |
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The Jewel in the Crown
With its neat, manicured buildings and whitewashed walls, the distillery sits
like a white jewel beneath the rolling Campsie Hills at the gateway to the
Highlands. Its true magic, though, is only unveiled as you wander through the
picturesque distillery yard, between banks of seasonal flora, to the Reception
Centre and beyond.
Here, tucked away behind the main buildings, within a natural sandstone hollow,
you'll find a tranquil lochan fed by a 50-foot waterfall.
Its source: the rainwater running off the mighty Dumgoyne Hill, which towers above
the distillery, and which must once have provided an ideal vantage point from which
to spy the unwelcome approach of Excisemen.
The crystal clear, soft water - some of it known to have filtered through the rocks
of Dumgoyne for 40 years or more - flows almost straight into the distillery before
continuing on its way down through the Blane Valley, eventually arriving at Loch
Lomond. In passing, it imparts a very delicate flavour to our malt whisky, a
lightness complemented by the milder climate of the southern Highlands and the
benevolent lee of Dumgoyne's peak, standing guard against the North winds of winter.
At Glengoyne you have a complete 'microcosm' of everything that's required for
producing whisky. The rain falls onto Dumgoyne Hill and then runs down a wooded
glen to the waterfall at the distillery, which in turn is surrounded by barley fields. |
A Multi-Faceted Gem
Its beauty, though, isn't Glengoyne's only claim to fame. For over a century, it was
also one of Scotland's smallest distilleries. All that changed in 1966 with a
substantial rebuilding programme, but the distillery still retains much of its
19th century charm.
And its uniqueness. In 1984, Lang Brothers became suppliers of whiskies to Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's household. The Royal Warrant has since
been assigned to Ian Macleod Distillers Limited and still takes pride of place on
all our Glengoyne packaging. |
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Curiouser and Curiouser!
The Highland Line, which notionally divided Highland from Lowland
Scotland, splits the distillery in two. Glengoyne is distilled in the Highlands
and matured in the Lowlands.
Divine Inspiration...
19th century graffiti etched into the lintel above the original warehouse door
reads 'Praise God from whom all blessings flow'. The words are Thomas Ken's, but
the sentiment is shared by everyone in our industry.
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