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"Glengoyne isn't just a product of the place, of course.
It's also testimony to the skills and commitment of the people who have made
it their life's work."Duncan McNicoll Stillman |
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A Distinguished Past... Recalling Glengoyne's distillery managers, one of the most colourful was Cochran Cartwright who ran the distillery from 1869 until his death in 1899. His spirit though lives on. Cochrane's ghost has been seen that often, it's customary for guests dining at the distillery to finish their evening with a toast to the 'spirit of Glengoyne'. After Cartwright came William McGeachie, then William's son, David, in charge from 1927 to 1967. That's nearly 100 years with just three men at the helm - a job for life indeed. Another noteworthy was Arthur Tedder, the resident Customs & Excise Officer at the distillery from 1889 to 1893. Arthur created the standard for Scotch Whisky which has helped to make it one of the world's greatest drinks, decreeing that the spirit which leaves the still must be in barrels for at least three years and a day before being called whisky. His son was also destined for fame. After a brilliant war record as Deputy Supreme Commander under Eisenhower, Arthur Tedder (the younger) was made Air Chief Marshal of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. When knighted, he adopted the title '1st Baron Tedder of Glenguin', honouring his formative years in the glen. ...And a Proud Present To the present day now, and it's reassuring to see how little has changed. Nine people still make the whisky (including our Distillery Manager, Robbie Hughes), just as they did in the past. And their characters are just as colourful! Take one of the present Stillmen, Duncan McNicoll, who recalls his first, brief encounter (see next page) with a very experienced stillman called Jimmy Carrick. Or Billy Edminston (Fitter) and Ronnie Palmer (Stillman) who both remember the days when distillery workers were treated to a regular dram. Ronnie recalls how locals used to stop on their way back home to help roll the casks across the road to the warehouses. "These very helpful souls knew that they'd be invited to join us for the large end of shift dram! It was the same with the deliverymen and the postmen. They used to time it perfectly to arrive at Glengoyne just as we were about to have our morning dram and, of course, they'd stay for a whisky before getting on their way." The added attraction was that whilst most distilleries gave their staff glasses of new spirit, workers at Glengoyne were always treated to mature whisky. Billy remembers being allowed to select the week's cask from the warehouse. "We were always sure to pick a good one!" BELOW: The colourful characters who make our whisky, click on a picture for their profile.
One for the Road Derek Morrison, Warehouse Supervisor at Glengoyne, recalls the tale of an Excise Officer at the distillery who for years was plagued with a pronounced limp. The cause: well, it turns out he kept a metal pipe down his trouser leg which he regularly filled with whisky during his working hours to enjoy later on. Brief Encounter "Stillmen were thought of as 'God' and I remember finding Jimmy a bit intimidating at first, especially when he asked how I was enjoying the job. As a 19 year old boy I replied, "Och you know, it's just a job." I'll never forget the look he gave me, saying "well, son, I don't think this is the job for you as you obviously don't get it." Jimmy was fiercely proud of his product and I like to think that today, Stillmen at Glengoyne take just as much pride in their work. It's anything but 'just a job'. It's a way of life." Stop at Nothing There's such a thing as being too keen. Charlie Murray, a Mashman at Glengoyne, recalls speeding to work on his motorbike. One day his gears jammed and Charlie ended up crashing through the Mash House door. He has matured a lot since then and mellowed with age. Much like the whisky! |
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