Lost Distilleries – the moment when it’s all gone!

[Onefortheditch]

By all gone, I mean all gone from retail shops. In Inverness there are three lost distilleries, Glen Albyn (closed 1983), Glen Mhor (closed 1983) and Millburn (mothballed in 1985). I often passed by them as a kid and never thought anything about them. And not far away is Ben Wyvis (closed in 1977) which I thought was all gone, but I saw today that a bottle still retails in Gordon & MacPhail for over £1000.

As customers it seems we can never how much stock is left – it’s a commercial secret. About 8 years ago when I started collected whisky I seem to remember Ben Wyvis was more available and I’d planned to get one, but I never got round to it - I wish I had as it was a lot cheaper then.

When the moment happens and it is practically all gone, I suspect the Ben Wyvis effect will happen. As I said we cannot know the stocks, but we as customers do have one piece of info at our disposal - the year they closed. We also have one other tool at our disposal – where we focus our purchases of closed distillery bottlings.

[JMW]

Having grown up in Inverness, I'm quite interested in the 3 distilleries you mention and try to research as much information about them as I can in my spare time.

There was an article in a recent issue of Whisky Mag regarding last year's Shackleton release. As the original whisky taken by Shackleton was a single malt from Glen Mhor, Richard Paterson used a cask from that distillery when he started trying to recreate it. I'm sure there was a comment that this was the last cask they (Whyte & Mackay) had.

It's a shame - i really enjoy Glen Mhor, it's very off the wall with a style that's quite difficult to pin down. It's unfortunate that malts of this nature don't tend to be as common as they once were (i suppose they just don't make commercial sense)

But yes, i'd agree with you on collectability - these are the ones to grab now. Next up - Lochside, Littlemill, Caperdonich...

[sinclair]

Inverleven can still be found at quite reasonable prices,especially G&M bottlings.Could be worth stashing a few.Rosebanks are starting to get pricey as are St Magdelenes.Cant afford PE's anymore.If only i'd known 20 yrs ago what i know now.

[Onefortheditch]

Having grown up in Inverness, I'm quite interested in the 3 distilleries you mention and try to research as much information about them as I can in my spare time.

There was an article in a recent issue of Whisky Mag regarding last year's Shackleton release. As the original whisky taken by Shackleton was a single malt from Glen Mhor, Richard Paterson used a cask from that distillery when he started trying to recreate it. I'm sure there was a comment that this was the last cask they (Whyte & Mackay) had.

It's a shame - i really enjoy Glen Mhor, it's very off the wall with a style that's quite difficult to pin down. It's unfortunate that malts of this nature don't tend to be as common as they once were (i suppose they just don't make commercial sense)

But yes, i'd agree with you on collectability - these are the ones to grab now. Next up - Lochside, Littlemill, Caperdonich...

Talking of Glen Mhor, I didn't see iit on the shelves at Gordon and MacPhail although I did see Millburn and Glen Albyn.

[Onefortheditch]

Below might help you if you are thinking about the remaining stocks of lost Scottish distilleries.

Hazelburn, Campbeltown, closed in 1925
Ballechin, Highlands, closed 1927
Lochindaal, closed 1929
Parkmore, Dufftown/Speyside, closed 1931
Kinclaith, Lowlands, demolished 1976
Ladyburn, Lowlands, demolished 1976
Ben Wyvis, Highlands, closed 1977
Glencraig, Morayshire/Speyside, from 1958 to 1981 produced Glenburgie with Lomondstills.
Banff, Speyside, demolished 1983
Brora, Brora/Northern Highlands, closed 1983, directly across from Clynelish
Dallas Dhu, Forres/Speyside, closed 1983, can be toured
Glenlochy, Western Highlands, closed 1983
Glen Mhor, Inverness/Highlands, closed 1983, demolished 1986
Glenugie, Peterhead/Highlands, closed 1983
North Port, Brechin/Highlands, closed 1983, demolished pre 2000
St. Magdalene, Linlithgow/Lowlands, closed 1983
Port Ellen Isle of Islay, closed 1983, although maltings still in use
Convalmore, Dufftown/Speyside, closed 1985
Glenflagler, Moffat/Lowlands, closed 1985
Killyloch, Lowlands, closed 1985
Millburn, Inverness/Speyside, closed 1985, demolished 1988
Glen Albyn, Inverness/Highlands, demolished 1988
Inverleven, Lowlands, closed 1991
Glenesk, Highlands, closed 1985, license revoked 1992
Glenury, Highlands, closed 1985, license revoked 1992
Coleburn, Speyside, license revoked 1992
Littlemill, Lowlands, closed 1992, dismantled 1996, burned down 2004
Lochside, Montrose/Highlands, closed 1992, demolished 2002
Pittyvaich, Speyside, closed 1993
Rosebank, Falkirk/Lowlands, closed 1993
Tamnavulin, Speyside, closed 1996
Imperial, Carron bei Aberlour/Speyside, closed 1998
Glencadam, Highlands, closed 2000
Braeval, Glenlivet/Speyside, closed 2002, formerly "Braes of Glenlivet"
Caperdonich, Rothes/Speyside, closed 2002
Tamdhu, Aberlour/Speyside, mothballed 2010

[bredman]

Thankfully that list needs updating.

Tamnavulin, Speyside, closed 1996

Reopened full time in 2007 after distilling for short periods during the 11 year mothballing. Now running at full production at 4m lpa.

Glencadam, Highlands, closed 2000

Only remained closed for a few years thankfully. Reopened in 2003 iirc.

Braeval, Glenlivet/Speyside, closed 2002, formerly "Braes of Glenlivet"

A favourite of mine, it was reopened in 2008 after spending 6 years mothballed.

Tamdhu, Aberlour/Speyside, mothballed 2010

Under new ownership. Rumoured to have huge stocks of ageing whisky.

There are rumours of Dallas Dhu and Imperial firing up too.

[JMW]

There are rumours of Dallas Dhu and Imperial firing up too.

Dallus Dhu? Wow - I'd heard the Imperial rumours but not that one.

I don't know of anybody that's come across a bottle of Parkmore - allegedly all of the maturing casks were destroyed when the distillery was closed, which seems a bit futile, really.

[Willie JJ]

I don't know of anybody that's come across a bottle of Parkmore - allegedly all of the maturing casks were destroyed when the distillery was closed, which seems a bit futile, really.

That depends how bad it was doesn't it?

[Onefortheditch]

Thanks bredman - Ive revised the liist and also started a little virtual window shopping.

Hazelburn, Campbeltown, closed in 1925
Ballechin, Highlands, closed 1927
Lochindaal, closed 1929
Parkmore, Dufftown/Speyside, closed 1931
Kinclaith, Lowlands, demolished 1976 - available circa £700
Ladyburn, Lowlands, demolished 1976 – available circa £140
Ben Wyvis, Highlands, closed 1977 - available over £1000
Glencraig, Morayshire/Speyside, from 1958 to 1981 produced Glenburgie with Lomondstills.
Banff, Speyside, demolished 1983
Brora, Brora/Northern Highlands, closed 1983, directly across from Clynelish
Dallas Dhu, Forres/Speyside, closed 1983, can be toured
Glenlochy, Western Highlands, closed 1983
Glen Mhor, Inverness/Highlands, closed 1983, demolished 1986
Glenugie, Peterhead/Highlands, closed 1983
North Port, Brechin/Highlands, closed 1983, demolished pre 2000
St. Magdalene, Linlithgow/Lowlands, closed 1983
Port Ellen Isle of Islay, closed 1983, although maltings still in use
Convalmore, Dufftown/Speyside, closed 1985
Glenflagler, Moffat/Lowlands, closed 1985
Killyloch, Lowlands, closed 1985
Millburn, Inverness/Speyside, closed 1985, demolished 1988
Glen Albyn, Inverness/Highlands, demolished 1988
Inverleven, Lowlands, closed 1991
Glenesk, Highlands, closed 1985, license revoked 1992
Glenury, Highlands, closed 1985, license revoked 1992
Coleburn, Speyside, license revoked 1992
Littlemill, Lowlands, closed 1992, dismantled 1996, burned down 2004
Lochside, Montrose/Highlands, closed 1992, demolished 2002
Pittyvaich, Speyside, closed 1993
Rosebank, Falkirk/Lowlands, closed 1993
Imperial, Carron bei Aberlour/Speyside, closed 1998
Caperdonich, Rothes/Speyside, closed 2002

[Onefortheditch]

The four that seem to be most highly rated to me from reading various posts are Brora, Port Ellen, Rosebank and St Magdalene. Are there any others that you think rate as highly?

[bredman]

Some good distilleries there, Convalmore and Dallas Dhu spring to mind. They made top notch whisky, Banff too.

[corbuso]

There are rumours of Dallas Dhu and Imperial firing up too.

Dallus Dhu? Wow - I'd heard the Imperial rumours but not that one.

I don't know of anybody that's come across a bottle of Parkmore - allegedly all of the maturing casks were destroyed when the distillery was closed, which seems a bit futile, really.

I have seen a bottle Parkmow in a private collection in Italy and peter Hofmann tasted it a few decades ago (see comment in his book http://www.angelsshare.ch/de/whisky-die ... -1266.html)
To your list, you could aslo add Benmore, Ben Wyvris (the first one, Ferintosh),...

You can even push the futility further, since the new Glendullan is a different distillery from the new one, etc...


By the Way, Kinninvie is not yet silent?

[DavidUK]

The four that seem to be most highly rated to me from reading various posts are Brora, Port Ellen, Rosebank and St Magdalene. Are there any others that you think rate as highly?

Lochside is very good too.

[MARS]

I like lochside a lot also.
Recent single cask bottling of littlemill(+-20 years old) are really worth a try (I tryed more than a few and they are all really good)

[Peter07]

I recently came across a Glen Flagler 1973 in Canada. I came home and read up on the history of the distillery. The more I read, the more interest I had in purchasing this bottle. Long story short. I bought it. There are many of you out there who will favour opening it and I'm sure a likely number will favour keepig it unopened. Personaly, I favour the latter. I know its rare. I know it is only one of 931. The reason I bought it was because I now have a piece of history.

[Ganga]

Please enjoy whether you open it or not.

[Peter07]

Thanks Ganga. I will enjoy it

[Onefortheditch]

By the Way, Kinninvie is not yet silent?

Kininvie is silent according to Dufftown distilleries. It was used in Monkey Shoulder which is great, so hopefully it will start again.

[Onefortheditch]

I recently came across a Glen Flagler 1973 in Canada. I came home and read up on the history of the distillery. The more I read, the more interest I had in purchasing this bottle. Long story short. I bought it. There are many of you out there who will favour opening it and I'm sure a likely number will favour keepig it unopened. Personaly, I favour the latter. I know its rare. I know it is only one of 931. The reason I bought it was because I now have a piece of history.

Lucky you - did you come across it in a shop or an auction?

[Peter07]

I recently came across a Glen Flagler 1973 in Canada. I came home and read up on the history of the distillery. The more I read, the more interest I had in purchasing this bottle. Long story short. I bought it. There are many of you out there who will favour opening it and I'm sure a likely number will favour keepig it unopened. Personaly, I favour the latter. I know its rare. I know it is only one of 931. The reason I bought it was because I now have a piece of history.

Lucky you - did you come across it in a shop or an auction?

I came across it in a shop. I'm sure there were many others who recognized its value and the history. It had an expensive price tag. It took me months to decide to buy it.
I decided one day to let fate decide. If it was still there I would buy it. It was and I did.