Bladnoch Distillery
Encyclopedia
Bladnoch Distillery is a Single malt Scotch whisky
distillery in south west Scotland
. It is one of only three remaining Lowland distilleries
, and is located at Bladnoch, near Wigtown
, Dumfries and Galloway
. The distillery is situated on the banks of the River Bladnoch
, and is the most southerly whisky distillery in Scotland.
By 1845 twenty workers, exclusive of tradesmen, were employed in converting 16,000 bushels of barley per annum into spirit. In 1878 the distillery was enlarged and modernised, presumably to cope with rising production. By 1887 the site occupied 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) with a further 50 acres (202,343 m²) being farmed by the proprietor, who was the son and nephew of the founders; the output had risen considerably to 51000 gallons (231,850.6 l) per annum.
In 1887 the distillery was described, by John Barnard on his tour of distilleries, as:
During the 1890s "misfortunes" which are not specified struck the distilling industry; these could have been the reduction nation-wide in the production of barley, a possible rise in excise duty and the growth of the various temperance movement
s. The other distilleries in Galloway
were forced to close but Bladnoch survived. Between 1911 and 1937 it was owned by Wm Dunville & Co. Ltd, an Irish company, and on the outbreak of World War II
whisky production ceased, but malt continued to be produced until 1949 when the distillery closed until 1957.
Upon re-opening under new ownership whisky production began again and continued under a number of different owners until 1983 when Bell's took over and initiated a programme of modernisation and computerisation. In 1987 the United Distillers Group
took over Bell's and continued the modernisation as a result of which the weekly production rose to over 8000 gallons (36,368.7 l), more than eight times the output in 1887.
The distillery was bought by Irishman Raymond Armstrong in 1995 and reopened for production in late 2000. The first 8-year-old product produced by this new team became available in 2009.
Opening times: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
Also - July and August & Bank Holidays
Saturday 11am - 5pm Sunday 12noon - 5pm
• Regular Distillery Tours - last tour 4pm
Single malt Scotch
Single Malt Scotch is whisky made in Scotland using a pot still distillation process at a single distillery, with malted barley as the only grain ingredient...
distillery in south west Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is one of only three remaining Lowland distilleries
Lowland Single Malts
Lowland Single Malts are single malt whiskies distilled in the lowlands of Scotland.The region now only has three currently producing distilleries: Glenkinchie, near Edinburgh; Auchentoshan, near Clydebank; and Bladnoch in Galloway....
, and is located at Bladnoch, near Wigtown
Wigtown
Wigtown is a town and former royal burgh in the Machars of Galloway in the south west of Scotland. It lies south of Newton Stewart and east of Stranraer. It has a population of about 1,000...
, Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...
. The distillery is situated on the banks of the River Bladnoch
River Bladnoch
The Bladnoch is a river in the Machars of Galloway in southwest Scotland. One of the earliest descriptions of it is given by Sir Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw and Sir David Dunbar in an appendix to Andrew Symson's work A Large Description of Galloway written in the 17th century...
, and is the most southerly whisky distillery in Scotland.
History
The distillery was founded by John and Thomas McClelland in 1817 and during the period 1823 - 1826 produced 28956 gallons (131,636.6 l) of whisky, an average of 7239 gallons (32,909.1 l) per annum, and in the year 1826 - 1827 this had risen to 9792 gallons (44,515.3 l).By 1845 twenty workers, exclusive of tradesmen, were employed in converting 16,000 bushels of barley per annum into spirit. In 1878 the distillery was enlarged and modernised, presumably to cope with rising production. By 1887 the site occupied 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) with a further 50 acres (202,343 m²) being farmed by the proprietor, who was the son and nephew of the founders; the output had risen considerably to 51000 gallons (231,850.6 l) per annum.
In 1887 the distillery was described, by John Barnard on his tour of distilleries, as:
- "A square pile of buildings erected around a courtyard, with all the water used in the works coming from a mill dam supplied from the upper reaches of the river; an overshot water wheel does all the driving power. The Malting House is a mainly stone building 118 feet (36 m) by 28 feet (8.5 m) with a slated roof, the woodwork painted red; it has three floors, the ground floor for malting and the top floors for barley, each possessing a stone step. There are besides, two other barns 95 feet (29 m) by 32 feet (9.8 m) similarly arranged. At left and right angles of the court are the kilns each loaded by a hoist, floored with perforated iron plates and heated with peats. On the top floor of the intermediate building there is a Malt Deposit on a level with the kilns and underneath there is the Mill andGrist Loft.
- "Also within the quadrangle is the Mash House, 40 feet (12.2 m) square containing two Heating Coppers holding together 5,700 gallons and a Tun 16 feet (4.9 m) in diameter and five and a half feet deep with stirring gear. Sunk in the bed of the watercourse is the Underbank, holding 3,000 gallons. A few steps up from the yard is the Back House where against the wall are six Washbacks, two holding 6,000 gallons and four holding 3,500 gallons; also a Miller's Refrigerator and the Wash Charger with a capacity of 3,500 gallons. The Still House, the oldest part of the establishment contains three old Pot Stills consisting of a Wash Still of 13,000 gallons and two Low Wines Stills each of 400 gallons.
- "The Receiving Room contains three Low Wines and Feints Receivers, the Spirit SafeSpirit SafeA spirit safe is a large, padlocked, glass walled, usually brass bound container found at Scotch Whisky distilleries which allow the distiller to analyse and manage the spirit coming out of the spirit stills without coming into contact with the spirit itself....
and a Spirit Receiver holding 400 gallons. Outside there are three Worm Tubs fed from the river and adjacent a Spirit Store containing a vat holding 530 gallons and the Excise and Distillery Offices. There are four Bonded Warehouses ranged round a second courtyard holding 805 casks containing 80,700 gallons. The Peat Shed is supported on iron columns and has a slated roof. In the main courtyard is a small cooperage and cask shed."
During the 1890s "misfortunes" which are not specified struck the distilling industry; these could have been the reduction nation-wide in the production of barley, a possible rise in excise duty and the growth of the various temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
s. The other distilleries in Galloway
Galloway
Galloway is an area in southwestern Scotland. It usually refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire...
were forced to close but Bladnoch survived. Between 1911 and 1937 it was owned by Wm Dunville & Co. Ltd, an Irish company, and on the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
whisky production ceased, but malt continued to be produced until 1949 when the distillery closed until 1957.
Upon re-opening under new ownership whisky production began again and continued under a number of different owners until 1983 when Bell's took over and initiated a programme of modernisation and computerisation. In 1987 the United Distillers Group
United Distillers
United Distillers was a Scottish company formed in 1987 from combining the businesses of Distillers Company and Arthur Bell & Sons, both owned by Guinness. The company owned six Scotch whisky brands, which were relaunched as the Classic Malts range...
took over Bell's and continued the modernisation as a result of which the weekly production rose to over 8000 gallons (36,368.7 l), more than eight times the output in 1887.
The distillery was bought by Irishman Raymond Armstrong in 1995 and reopened for production in late 2000. The first 8-year-old product produced by this new team became available in 2009.
Opening times: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
Also - July and August & Bank Holidays
Saturday 11am - 5pm Sunday 12noon - 5pm
• Regular Distillery Tours - last tour 4pm
External links
- Bladnoch Distillery website
- Bladnoch Distillery forums
- http://www.whisky-online.net/ (Single Malt Whisky Website: distillery info, nosing/tasting notes, bottle shots,...)