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"Glengoyne's is a rich and colourful story that will capture
the imagination of whisky aficionados near and far. All the right incredients are here
to be enjoyed."
Derek Cooper,
Guide to Whiskies of Scotland
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The Glengoyne Distillery is situated in a wooded valley in the
southern Highlands of Scotland close to a small river that flows into the famous
Loch Lomond. The distillery, which takes its name from "Glen Guin"
or Glen of the Wild Geese, has been producing an exceptional single malt scotch
whisky for nearly 200 years.
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Glengoyne is one of the few distilleries producing
whisky in this part of Scotland today. However at the beginning of the nineteenth
century it is recorded that at least eighteen whisky stills were in operation
in this area. |
But these, like many others at that time, were illegal. Whisky producers were
forced to produce whisky illicitly as they were unable to pay the heavy taxes
imposed by the government on spirit production to fund wars against France.
Smuggling became rife and the hills and glens around Glengoyne formed a perfect
cover for this lawless activity.
It was not until the 1820’s that an Act
of Parliament was passed reducing the duty on spirit and the cost of a licence
to distil which put an end to illegal production. This gave rise to a rush
of stills being legalised including those at Glengoyne in 1833. It is reputed
that Glengoyne was one of only a few stills to be licensed in the southern Highlands
due to the high quality of whisky it produced.
Sir Walter Scott’s novels capture the romance and intrigue of this period
in Scottish history. In particular with his character, Rob Roy, who was renowned
for cattle thieving and other activities and is believed to have once escaped
the law by hiding in an oak tree just 300 metres from the Glengoyne Distillery. |
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Glengoyne, working continually since it was
founded, was first-owned by George Connell who erected a distillery and
took a lease on the surrounding land; he also built a warehouse which is
still very much in use today. In 1876, the Lang Brothers from neighbouring
Glasgow bought the distillery and ownership still remains in Scottish hands
with the Edrington Group taking over the distillery in the 1960’s
and the Independent, Scottish, family owned business, Ian Macleod Distillers
Ltd. acquiring the distillery in 2003.
The changes in ownership have done little to affect production of this unique
malt as the traditional working methods have been passed from generation to
generation to create this subtle, complex whisky in which all the delicate
flavours are freely allowed to express themselves. |
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