Highland Heritage

GLEN GARIOCH HISTORY

Use the up and down arrows to scroll through the history of Glen Garioch.

1794 - John Manson (1762-1838) founder with his younger brother Alexander (1770-1847). They built Glen Garioch distillery and a brewery on the site of an old tannery which had a water supply from the Percock Hills.

1794 - Statistical Account of Meldrum written by Rev Thomas Tait states there are a distillery and brewery, lately established in it and both are in a thriving way.

1795 - December: Aberdeen Journal brief reference.

1798 - Thomas Simpson purchased both the distillery and the brewery.

1827 - Ingram, Lamb & Co became new owners and expanded the buildings.

1837 - Era of 2 names, as Glen Garioch was bought by the Strathmeldrum Distillery Company headed by John Manson Junr, son of founder, who funded his purchase.
The distillery was still called Glen Garioch.

1838 - Memorandum of John Manson’s stock June 1838, shortly before his death, records 
£1,400 lent John Manson Junr Glen Garioch Distillery.

1856 - Inverury and Old Meldrum Junction Railway opened bringing mechanised transport. Whisky casks no longer sent to Aberdeen by ox cart.

1884 - JG Thomson & Co of Leith (principal Joseph Thomson) becomes new owner.

1886 - William Sanderson of Leith, of VAT 69 fame, purchased a 50% interest in JG Thomson & Co. Twelve men employed under manager Jimmy Shand, who starts pig farm in distillery grounds. Local peat dug.

1914 - 18 - Low volume production continued with Glen Garioch office clerk Charlie Taylor acting as town clerk. Jimmy Shand retires in 1918 aged 73.

1921 - After 35 years of Sanderson half-ownership, William Mark Sanderson, son of William Sanderson, with other investors, founded the Glengarioch Distillery Co Ltd to take 100% ownership.

1933 - Booth’s Distilleries Ltd became new owner.

1937 - Scottish Malt Distillers (SMD), part of DCL, purchased Glen Garioch.

1939 - 45 - World War II: Distillery closed and some buildings used as army dormitories. SMD restored production in peacetime.

1968 - SMD closed the distillery because of limited water source and offered it for sale.

1970 - Stanley P Morrison Ltd paid £150,000 for the distillery. Low level production resumed.

1972 - Glen Garioch becomes the first distillery in Scotland to gas fire its stills. 
November: Glen Garioch was first marketed in bottles. Previously only blended into brands like Bell’s, Grant’s Standfast and Drambuie.
New water source is found at Coutens Farm.

1977 - Planning permission obtained for Greenhouse project to make use of waste heat.

1978 - Greenhouse project supervised by BBC Scotland’s Jim McColl attracts initial publicity. North Sea oil boom brings streams of visitors and expansion from 2 to 3 stills. Small visitor centre opened.

1982 - Glen Garioch Distillery display is part of the British Pavilion at the World Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee.

1988 - Glen Garioch displayed a mini-distillery and greenhouse at Glasgow Garden Festival and is honoured with visits from Prince Charles, Princess Diana and Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher.

1993 - Greenhouse project abandoned.

1994 - July: Suntory Ltd became owner.

1995 - October: Closed.

1997 - Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd, wholly owned subsidiary of Suntory Ltd, became owner. Distillery re-opened.

HIGHLAND HERITAGE