Glendronach distillery

GlenDronach distillery

Region: Highland
Owner	Brown-Forman
Founded	1826
Status	Active
Water source	Dronac Burn
No. of stills	2 wash (13,635 L),[1] 2 spirit (6,800 L)
Capacity	1,300,000 litres per annum
GlenDronach Single Malt
Age(s)	8 Year (The Hielan) bourbon/sherry casks - 46% ABV 12 Year (Original) - PX/Oloroso sherry casks - 43% ABV 15 Year (Revival) - Oloroso sherry casks - 46% ABV 18 Year (Allardice) - Oloroso sherry casks - 46% ABV 20 Year (Octaves) - small casks, limited to 371 bottles 21 Year (Parliament) - PX/Oloroso sherry casks - 48% ABV 31 Year (Grandeur) - Oloroso sherry casks - 45.8% ABV 33 Year Old - Oloroso sherry casks
Cask type(s)	Pedro Ximenez/Oloroso Sherry/Bourbon
ABV	43-48%
Wood Finishes
Age(s)	12 Year Old (Sauternes) 14 Year Old (Virgin Oak) 15 Year Old (Moscatel) 18 Year Old (Marsala, Tawny Port) 19 Year Old (Madeira)
Cask type(s)	American & European Oak
ABV	46%
Cask Strength
Age(s)	No Age Statement
Cask type(s)	Pedro Ximenez/Oloroso Sherry
ABV	>54%
Peated
Age(s)	No Age Statement
Cask type(s)	Oloroso Sherry

Glendronach distillery is a Scottish whisky distillery located near Forgue, by Huntly, Aberdeenshire, in the Highland whisky district.^[2] It is owned by the Brown–Forman Corporation.

The name Glendronach derives from the Scottish Gaelic gleann dronach which means 'valley of the brambles' or 'valley of the blackberries'.

History

The distillery was founded in 1826 by James Allardes (referred to often as Allardice) as the second distillery to apply for a licence to legally produce whisky under the Excise Act of 1823,^[3] which passed three years earlier and which allowed for the distilling of whisky in Scotland.^[4] Other sources credit a consortium of farmers and businessmen for the foundation of the distillery though this could include Allardes. Notable owners include Walter Scott, who acquired it in 1881 and Charles Grant, son of the founder of the Glenfiddich distillery, in 1920.^[3]

The Glendronach distillery was purchased by William Teacher & Sons in 1960 who increased the number of stills from two to six.^[3] It was sold in 1976 to the company that would become Allied Domecq.^[5]

In 1996 the distillery was mothballed and reopened again in 2002^[6] by Allied Domecq. In 2006 the distillery passed into the hands of Chivas Brothers Ltd (part of the Pernod Ricard group) and in 2008 it was sold to the BenRiach Distillery Company. ^[5]

In April 2016 Glendronach Distillery was purchased by the Brown–Forman Corporation. The deal also included BenRiach and Glenglassaugh distilleries.^[7]

Production

The distillery draws its water from the Dronac burn within the distillery grounds. It has its own floor maltings and two wash stills in addition to two spirit stills.

The distillery is protected as a category B listed building.^[8]

The core range of whiskies consists of expressions matured in ex-sherry casks, in particular oloroso and PX.^[9]

The common exploration is 12 years, 15 years, 18 years, and 21 years.

References

1. Glendronach
2. "Our Story". Glendronach. Retrieved 21 March 2019.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
3. Helen Arthur (2002) [1997]. The single malt companion (in Dutch). Lisbeth Machielsen (trans.). Librero. pp. 122–124. ISBN 90-5764-236-0.
4. "History of Scotch Whisky". Castello Brothers Inc. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
5. "Glendronach | Scotch Whisky". scotchwhisky.com. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
6. "Glendronach Distillery reopens". Whisky Magazine. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
7. "Brown-Forman to Acquire the Glendronach, Benriach, AND Glenglassaugh Single Malt Scotch Whiskies". 27 April 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
8. Historic Environment Scotland. "Glendronach Distillery, Kiln Range, former Steading, West and South Bonded Warehouses, Offices and Dronach House (Category B Listed Building) (LB46288)". Retrieved 21 March 2019.
9. "Products – Glendronach Distillery". Retrieved 18 January 2023.

External links

• Official Glendronach website.
• Media related to Glendronach Distillery at Wikimedia Commons

Visitor Center at the Glendronach distillery

Garden at the Glendronach distillery

Tasting Room at the Glendronach distillery

57.4847°N 2.6255°W / 57.4847; -2.6255