Glen Scotia

Translation: Valley of the Scots

Region: Campbeltown

Dead people live longer.

Glen Scotia is dead, the distillery is gone. At least one should think - as often and as long as the distillery already dying. Again and again she was closed in the course of her long life and it looked like the final end. And again and again it somehow went on anyway somehow. So today Glen Scotia is the only survivor of the 30 or so distilleries that existed around 1900 in Campbeltown.
Incidentally, there should be another undead in the walls of the distillery. The ghost of the unfortunate Duncan McCallum, it is said, is going around there. The former owner of the distillery had drowned after he went bankrupt. In the nearby Crosshill Loch - from the Glen Scotia until today the water draws.

A little history

Glen Scotia was founded in 1832 by Steward, Galbraith & Co.
Since then, the distillery has a varied history behind it. There have been numerous owners, and again and again, phases that have not been produced for years.
In 1919, the distillery went to West Highland Malt Distillers Ltd. (WHMD), which already owned several distilleries on the Kintyre Peninsula, on which Campbeltown is located. Just a few years later, the company went bankrupt and all its distilleries were closed. (Besides Glen Scotia also Glengyle, Dalintober, Kinloch and Ardlussa)
The 1924 attempted rescue of former director Duncan MacCallum, ended with his suicide and the renewed closure of the distillery.
In the following decades, the owners changed frequently.
From 1979 to 1982, under the direction of A. Gillies & Co., the distillery produced limited because of extensive renovations
In 1984, Glen Scotia was closed despite the modernization.
In 1989, the distillery went to Gibson International and was reopened. But Gibson failed and had to declare bankruptcy in 1994. Glen Scotia was mothballed.
Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse bought the bankruptcy estate consisting of the distillery and the stored whiskey. In 1999, production was resumed.
Since 2000, Glen Scotia has been operating under the leadership of the Loch Lomond Distillery Co.

What do I actually have in the glass?

Glen Scotia's Malts clearly show their home on the coast. The whiskeys taste of sea air, salt and fresh breeze.

3 reasons to love Glen Scotia

1) Because fresh North Sea air is just good.
2) Because so much will to survive earns respect.
3) Because it's only over when it's over.

The one drama for the lonely island

One might argue about the bottle design - but the original 16-year-old bottling is a wonderful Campbeltown malt: full, spicy and fresh sea breeze.

numbers and facts

Address: 12 High Street, Campbeltown, Argyll, PA 28 6DS
Founded: 1832 by Stewart, Galbraith & Co
Status: active
Owner: Loch Lomond Distillery Co
Capacity: approx. 750,000 liters
1 wash still (16,000 l)
1 spirit still (12,000 l)
Water: Crosshill hole
Visitor Center: -
Telephone: +44 (0) 1586/552288
Website: www.glenscotia-distillery.co.uk