Glengyle
Translation: Forged valley
Region: Campbeltown
What can Sleeping Beauty do ...
... Glengyle can do that, too. Nearly anyway. Sleeping Beauty is said to have fallen into a 100-year sleep. That was similar at Glengyle. The distillery, founded in 1872, was closed in 1925, as were so many distilleries of the once proud whiskey region of Campbeltown. And then Glengyle slept. Long, long time. Until the distillery was almost forgotten. But then, one day, came - no, no prince on a white horse. But Hedley Wright, head of the neighboring Springbank distillery and descendant of Glengyle founder William Mitchell. He revived the distillery after 80 years of slumbering to new life. And if they are not dead….
A little history
The original Glengyle Distillery was founded in 1872 by William Mitchell.
As a result of the economic depression in the United Kingdom and the prohibition in the United States, it went from 1910 increasingly bad, the distillery was sold in 1919 and closed in 1925.
The warehouses were converted in 1929 to a gas station and auto repair shop.
An attempt by the Bloch Brothers to re-activate the distillery in the 1940s failed in the turmoil of World War II.
In 2000, the distillery was bought and repaired by the operators of the Springbank Distillery under the direction of Hedley Wright. Wright is a descendant of Glengyle founder William Mitchell. The burning bubbles for glengyle were obtained from the long-time closed distillery Ben Wyvis.
In 2004, the newly revived Glengyle distillery was the first spirit from the stills. The malt is sold as "Kilkerran", since the name rights to "Glengyle" meanwhile lie with the Loch Lomond Distillers, who bring out a Vatted Highland Malt under this name.
What do I actually have in the glass?
It is still hard to say what the typical Glengyle Malt will ultimately be like. Too young and too rare so far are the bottlings. But what's been on the market so far in the "Work in Progress" series is more than promising: powerful, spicy, and aromatic - this could be a great Campbeltown malt. Springbank friends beware!
3 reasons to love Glengyle
1) Because in the fairy tale ultimately the good always wins.
2) Because she did not die.
3) Because Campbeltown is back to glorious times.
The one drama for the lonely island
The Sherrywood Kilkerran from the "Work in Progress" Edition 6 is a powerful-spicy aroma package. Chocolate, plums, ginger, European red oak ... and a lot of sherry!
numbers and facts
Address: Glengyle Road, Campbeltown, Argyll PA286LR
Founded: 1872 by William Mitchell (re-opened in 2004 by Hedley Wright)
Status: active
Owner: Mitchell's Glengyle Ltd.
Capacity: approx. 750,000 liters (currently limited production: approx. 60,000 liters)
1 wash still (18,000 l)
1 spirit still (15,000 l)
Water: Crosshill hole
Visitor Center: No, but distillery tours are offered
Telephone: +44 (0) 1586/551710
Website: www.kilkerransinglemalt.com
