Glen Albyn
Translation: Valley of Scotland
Region: (Northern) Highlands
Moving story without a happy ending.
Glen Albyn, founded in Inverness in 1884, was originally part of a brewery. Then a distillery. Then a flour mill. Then another distillery. A sea mine factory. And again a distillery. The distillery was sold in 1972, closed a few years later, and finally demolished in 1988. Today, where once was Glen Albyn, a shopping center, and only a few bottles keep the memory of the changing life of this "lost distillery" in the capital of the Highlands.
A little history
The distillery was founded in 1844 by James Sutherland on the site of the former Muirtown Brewery in the north of Inverness. In November 1849, a fire destroyed large parts of the distillery. Only three months later, however, could be produced again. From 1855 the distillery was for sale. Since there was no buyer for a long time, it was shut down in 1866 and used only as a flour mill. In 1884 Gregory and Co. bought Glen Albyn and again made a distillery out of it. During World War I, it served as a base for the US Navy. As with the colleagues of Dalmore, mines were produced here. In 1920 the distillery of Mackinlay & Birnie Ltd. was founded. accepted. In 1972, Glen Albyn went to the Distillers Company Limited (DCL), which they closed in 1983 and demolished in 1986. There is a shopping center on the site today.
What do I actually have in the glass?
The character of the Glen Albyn actually reminds little of the rough north and the nearby coast. The malt is rather fruity, light, with a delicate vanilla sweetness.
3 reasons to love Glen Albyn
1) Because a distillery suits the capital of the Highlands better than a shopping center.
2) Because the malt would have earned a happy ending.
3) Because the view is so beautiful here, where the Caledonian Canal flows into the Moray Firth.
The one drama for the lonely island
Glen Albyn bottlings are pretty much unobtainable. A certain chance still offers the 1976er of Gordon & MacPhail. Soft but complex, with a fruity character and notes of honey and spices. To buy!
numbers and facts
Address: (former) Great North Road, Inverness, Inverness-IV IV IV 5LD
Founded: 1844 by James Sutherland
Status: demolished
Owner: (last) Distillers Company Limited (DCL)
Capacity: (formerly)
1 wash still (8,000 l)
1 Spirit still (7,000 l)
Water: (formerly) River Ness
Visitor Center: -
Telephone: -
Website: -
