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36-604: Glen Scotia distillery or sometimes affectionately known as The Scotia or Old Scotia is a distillery that is a producer of single malt Scotch whisky . The distillery was founded in 1832 and is one of just three distilleries left in Campbeltown , the smallest whisky region. 15 Year Old 46% ABV Victoriana 52.2% ABV 18 Year Old 46% ABV Glen Scotia Distillery was founded in 1832, and has been operating for one hundred and eighty years. Situated in Campbeltown, one of

72-413: A London -based company, Pernod Ricard of France and Suntory Global Spirits , a Japanese -owned company. Independent distilleries owned by Scots companies make a substantial amount of whisky too, particularly William Grant & Sons , the largest of these. Grant produces 8% of all Scotch whisky, with brands including Glenfiddich and Balvenie . Glenfiddich is the best-selling single malt Scotch in

108-608: A malt whisky is assumed to be made from barley . In the case of Scotch whisky, blended malts do not contain any whisky made from grains other than barley or spirits distilled using continuous distillation , unlike products labelled as " blended whisky ". For the Scotch whisky industry, the terms vatted malt or pure malt have been reclassified as "blended malts" per the Scotch Whisky Regulations of 2009 , and it has become unlawful to label Scotch Whisky using

144-404: A vatted malt , or pure malt , is a blend of different single malt whiskies from different distilleries . These terms are most commonly used in reference to Scotch whisky , or whisky in that style, such as Japanese whisky . The legally anachronistic term vatted was used to describe the blending process but does not automatically equate to creation of a vatted malt. Likewise, the use of

180-682: A capacity of 11,800 litres, and one spirit still with an 8,600 litre capacity. The copper pot stills are onion-shaped, with wide and short necks. There are 9 washbacks within the distillery, these are all stainless steel.  The washbacks that Glen Scotia originally had were more than 40 years old and were made out of COR-TEN Steel. The current annual production levels stand at around 700,000 litres. Glen Scotia’s whiskies have been recognised in many renowned award ceremonies, such as San Francisco World Spirits Awards, International Wine & Spirits Competition, World Whisky Awards, International Spirits Challenge & The Scotch Whisky Masters. Glen Scotia

216-432: A staff of just 8 employees: one distillery manager, assistant distillery manager, visitor centre manager and five distillery operators. The visitor centre is open to the public and runs daily distillery tours and tastings, with a Victorian style shop to purchase the whisky, branded merchandise and other goods. The Glen Scotia range has been simplified down to five core Single Malt expressions: Glen Scotia's range showcases

252-509: Is adapted from the old Latin word singulum (individual). In the following centuries, the various governments of Scotland began taxing the production of whisky, to the point that most of the spirit was produced illegally. However, in 1823, Parliament passed the Excise Act making commercial distillation legal and profitable. Punishments were imposed on landowners when unlicensed distilleries were found on their properties. The passing of

288-563: Is committed to working with partners like the Scotch Whisky Association to increase our tourism offer and encourage more people to visit our distilleries," the Secretary added. Flavour, aroma, and finish differ widely between single malts. Single malt Scotch whiskies are categorised into the following whisky-producing regions: Campbeltown single malts , Highland single malts , Island single malts (a sub-section of

324-485: Is produced from other malted grains, such as malted rye , and the term "rye malt whisky" is specifically recognized along with (barley-based) malt whisky in the code of federal regulations for whisky in the United States . Moreover, in much of the world, whisky is often made using grain that is not malted (for example, using maize in a corn mash ). In practice, unless a different grain is specifically mentioned,

360-508: Is sometimes seen, "double malt Scotch" or "triple malt". This designation indicates that the whisky was aged in two or three types of casks, but was not blended; hence, it still falls into the single malt category. The more common term for this type of whisky is "double wood" or "triple wood". Examples include The Balvenie 12 Years Old DoubleWood and Laphroaig Triple Wood. Many companies use malt whisky purchased from multiple distilleries, and these whiskies combined into " blended malt ". Until

396-506: The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SWR 2009), the word "blended" only appeared (in the context of Scotch whisky) on bottles of whisky that contained a mixture of both barley and non-barley grain whisky , but this is no longer the case. Under the terminology established by the SWR 2009, the term "blended malt Scotch whisky" replaced the term "vatted malt" to describe a mixture of single malt Scotch whiskies (malted barley whisky). Only about 10% of

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432-445: The 1830s, Aeneas Coffey patented a refined version of a design originally created by Robert Stein, based on early innovations by Sir Anthony Perrier, for a column still . This new method produced whisky much more efficiently than the traditional pot stills . The new type of still allowed for continuous distillation , without the need for cleaning after each batch was made. This process made manufacturing more affordable by performing

468-607: The Distillery for almost 60 years. Notable industrialist Duncan MacCallum purchased the distillery in 1891 and he constructed the large frontage (Malting Floors) which run along High Street. The distillery was acquired from the trustees of the late Duncan McCallum by the Bloch Brothers in 1933. Production was suspended in 1942 on account of the Second World War but was restarted early in 1945. Bloch Brothers

504-481: The Highland region), Islay single malts , Lowland single malts , and Speyside single malts Independent bottlers buy casks of single malts and either bottle them immediately or store them for future use. Many of the independents began as stores and merchants who bought the whisky in bulk and bottled it for individual sales. Many distilleries do not bottle their whisky as a single malt, so independent bottlings are

540-511: The Scotch whiskies on the market are defined as single malt. The other 90% is made by combining numerous whiskies, typically two-thirds grain whisky (non-barley) and one-third malt whisky, from several, or numerous, distilleries in Scotland. The resulting products are labeled "blended Scotch whisky", without the word "malt". Nearly 90% of Scotch whisky sold each year is a blended type. Nonetheless, in 2018, single malt Scotch made up nearly 28% of

576-538: The U.S. in October 2019. By year-end 2017, however, exports totaled a record-breaking £4.37 billion, an increase of 8.9% over 2016. Of that total, single malt Scotch accounted for £1.17 billion in exports, a 14% increase over 2016. Exports in 2018 again increased, by 7.8% by value, and 3.6% in number of bottles, in spite of the duty imposed in 2017; exports grew to a record level, £4.7 billion. The US tariffs were not yet in place at that time, however. Of

612-536: The UK (129 of those in Scotland) Campbeltown still has 3 operating distilleries: Glen Scotia, Springbank, and Glengyle. These distilleries give a remarkable insight into the history of making whisky in this remote, once prolific, whisky making region of Scotland. Glen Scotia was formerly known as 'Scotia' when it was first founded in 1832 by Stewart & Galbraith and Company. Stewart & Galbraith Co. ran

648-620: The act encouraged many distillers to apply for licensees. An Upper Drummin farmer in the Glen Livet valley, George Smith, working under landlord the Duke of Gordon , was the first person in Scotland to take out a licence for a distillery under the new law, founding what would become the Glenlivet Distillery in 1824, making single malt Scotch. Others followed and by 1830, some 232 distilleries had become licensed in Scotland. In

684-459: The bottle. Distillation of whisky has been performed in Scotland for centuries. The earliest written record of whisky production in Scotland from malted barley is an entry on the 1494 Exchequer Rolls, which reads "Eight bolls of malt to Friar John Cor, by order of the King, wherewith to make aqua vitae ." The expression 'single' means that of "separate, distinct, not combined or taken together" and

720-433: The centenary anniversary of the local Campbeltown Picture House. Each year, for the annual Campbeltown Malt Whisky Festival, Glen Scotia release a special limited release bottling. In 2019 this was a 15-year-old rum finish and 2020 a 14-year-old Tawny Port finish. In 2023 it was a 11-years-old white port finish. In October 2023, Glen Scotia has released a new annual special series. It is called 'The Icons Of Campbeltown' and

756-406: The distillery was bought by Loch Lomond Group who have invested heavily in the site by developing the brand, increasing capacity, opening warehouses and developing a distillery visitor centre. Today, the distillery still maintains much of its original design, including the mash tun , the stillroom and the dunnage warehouse which dates back to the 1830s. Glen Scotia distillery currently operates with

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792-431: The economy of the UK was estimated as £5.5 billion in 2018; the industry provided £3.8 billion in direct GVA (gross value added) to Scotland. Whisky tourism has also become significant and accounts for £68.3 million per year. One factor may have negatively affected sales, an extra 3.9% duty on spirits imposed by the UK in 2017. By 2020, another factor may affect exports: the 25% increase in tariffs imposed by

828-470: The equivalent of multiple distillation steps. The new still dramatically increased production; the whisky was less intense and smoother, though less flavoursome. Quickly, merchants began blending the malt whisky with grain whisky distilled in the continuous stills, making the first blended Scotch whisky. The blended Scotch proved quite successful, less expensive to produce than malt, and exhibited more flavour and character than grain. The combination allowed

864-426: The first bottling is the 12-year-old 'The Mermaid'. In August 2024, the distillery released 'The Dragon', the second whisky in the series. Additionally, special releases and other small production run bottlings also exist. The distillery draws its water from Crosshill Loch in Campbeltown. The distillery uses unpeated, medium peated and heavily peated malt barley for its whisky. Glen Scotia has one wash still, with

900-549: The only way the single malt gets to market. The bottling process is generally the same, but independents generally do not have access to the distillery's water source, so another source is used to dilute the whisky. Additionally, independents are generally less concerned with maintaining a particular style, so more single year and single cask bottlings are produced. Established independent bottlers include Duncan Taylor , Murray McDavid , Douglas Laing & Co , and Blackadder . Blended malt A blended malt , formerly called

936-607: The recognised 5 Whisky producing regions of Scotland, the distillery has a formidable pedigree. Campbeltown is a small town on the Kintyre Peninsula on the west coast of Scotland. It is affectionately known as the “Wee Toon”, and the Victorian Whisky Capital of the World. At its peak in the 1800s, there were 21 distilleries in this small town with approximately 170 distilleries operating at that time in

972-473: The single malt producers to expand their operations, or to sell their products to other distillers who were making the blended products. After the 1850s, blended Scotch became far more popular than single malt whisky which eventually became a niche product for connoisseurs. By the Victorian era, distilleries had become commonplace across Scotland . A common feature in design originating from Charles C. Doig

1008-425: The term "blended" did not necessarily refer to the creation of what is typically referred to as a blended whisky . A blending of different casks or batches of single malt whisky produced from the same distillery is still considered a single malt whisky. The "malt" part of the term refers to the use of a malted grain to make the whisky. In Scotch whisky, this grain is required to be barley . Outside Scotland, whisky

1044-501: The total exports in 2018, single malt accounted for £1.3 billion. Whisky tourism has also become significant and accounts for £68.3 million per year; the percentage contribution to this industry by single malt Scotch distilleries, however, has not been released. The tourism has been a real plus to the economy, and of significant value especially in remote rural areas, according to Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs. "The Scottish Government

1080-488: The typical Campbeltown flavour profile of toffee, maritime influence and a hint of smoke. Each of the core expressions have been designed to keep to an authentic 'Campbeltown Malt style' culminating in the Victoriana where the distillery has aimed to re-create a modern interpretation of classic Victorian Campbeltown Malt. Glen Scotia Distillery also regularly produces 'special' bottlings to celebrate local events, such as

1116-505: The world; roughly 14 million bottles are sold annually. In recent times, single malt has made up about 26% of the whisky exported to other countries; bulk spirits constituted about 5% and the balance has been blended whisky. The top importers of Scotch whisky are the US (21%), France (11%) and Singapore (6%). The Scotch Whisky Association estimated in 2019 that Scotland's whisky industry supported 40,000 jobs. The industry's contribution to

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1152-402: The £4.7 billion of whisky exported from Scotland. For any Scotch whisky, whether malt or blended, the age statement on a bottle refers to the number of years the whisky spent maturing in casks . Very few whiskies are bottled from a single cask . The mixing of spirits with different amounts of ageing is allowed; the age statement of the resulting mix reflects the age of the youngest whisky in

1188-498: Was acquired by Hiram Walker and Sons of Dumbarton in 1954. In 1955 A. Gilles took ownership and in 1970 this merged with three other companies into Amalgamated Distilled Products (ADP). In 1987, Ian Lockwood, former group marketing director of Amalgamated Distilled Product led a management buyout of part of the business and the sale included the Glen Scotia Distillery, which operated as Gibson International. In 2014,

1224-432: Was comparatively limited until the late 20th century. It was noted that in 1967, of 110 distilleries only 30 allowed the public to buy their whisky as a single malt. However, by the 1990s, changing demand had resulted in most distilleries offering a single malt to customers. A 2016 report stated that only 20% of the Scotch whisky was made by companies owned in Scotland. The owners of the majority of products are Diageo ,

1260-553: Was crowned producers of the World's Best Whisky at the 'San Francisco World Spirits Competition' in 2021. The Distillery was also awarded 'Best Scottish Whisky Distillery' at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2021. The first year any distillery has ever won best distillery and best whisky in the same year. 55°25′46.25″N 05°36′15.25″W  /  55.4295139°N 5.6042361°W  / 55.4295139; -5.6042361 Single malt Scotch whisky Another term

1296-404: Was that of a pagoda like roof that improved the efficiency of distilleries by drawing off peat smoke in the malting process. Even today many distilleries possess a pagoda style roof on at least one building even if no malting takes place and in some instances, new pagoda roofs are added for aesthetic purposes. However, while whisky production was widespread in Scotland, the number of single malts

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