🥃 Glen Elgin
Distillery and single malt brand at Fogwatt near Elgin (Speyside), founded 1898; six stills and worm tub condensers; a component of White Horse; owned by Diageo.
Glen Elgin is a distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand in the village of Fogwatt, near Elgin in Speyside. It was founded in 1898 by bankers William Simpson and James Carl, and the first spirit ran in 1900. For a long time the whisky was an important part of the White Horse blend, and the distillery is owned by Diageo.
History. The first years were hard: the distillery was closed twice. In 1901 it was taken over by the Glen Elgin-Glenlivet Distillery Co, in 1906 by JJ Blanche & Co, and by the early 1920s and 1930s it had joined the Distillers Company under a White Horse Distillers licence. Electricity arrived only in 1950, and until then the equipment ran on paraffin. In 1964 the number of stills rose from two to six, and the distillery was rebuilt in 1992-1995.
How it is made. Six stills work with worm tub condensers, and fermentation lasts about 90 hours in nine wooden washbacks. The malt is unpeated, and the new spirit comes off at 66-67% ABV. According to Malts.com, the water is drawn from springs near Millbuies Loch. The distillery does not receive visitors.
Range. The official core expression is the 12-year-old, part of the Flora & Fauna series since 2001; Malts.com also mentions an 18-year-old. Other ages are released by independent bottlers.
Why it matters to you. Glen Elgin is rarely found as a single malt, because most of the whisky goes into blends. It is a single-distillery Scotch: at least 3 years in oak and at least 40% ABV. The age on the label refers to the youngest whisky in the bottle. The WHO reminds us that no level of alcohol consumption is safe.
Facts
| Year founded | 1898, William Simpson and James Carl; production from 1900; Fogwatt, Moray |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Speyside) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | unpeated barley malt; water from springs near Millbuies Loch |
| Distillation method | twice, 6 copper stills (since 1964), worm tub condensers |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law; the main expression is 12 years (Flora & Fauna) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40% ABV by law |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Glen Elgin → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Diageo
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Speyside whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 White Horse
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Glen Elgin is a component of White Horse?
Yes. According to Whiskypedia, for decades the distillery operated under a White Horse Distillers licence and was an important supplier of malt whisky for this blend.
When was Glen Elgin founded?
In 1898; production began in 1900. The founders were William Simpson and James Carl.
Who owns Glen Elgin?
Diageo, since 1997; earlier the distillery was owned by the Distillers Company and United Distillers.
How many stills does Glen Elgin have?
Six, since 1964; the condensers are worm tubs.
Can Glen Elgin be visited?
No, the distillery is closed to visitors.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
Similar
🥃 Benrinnes · 🥃 Linkwood · 🥃 Dailuaine · 🥃 Knockdhu · 🥃 Allt-a-Bhainne · 🥃 Teaninich
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Glen Elgin (1898, William Simpson and James Carle, production 1900; Fogwatt, Moray; DCL with White Horse licence; 6 stills since 1964; worm tubs; 9 wooden washbacks; 12 YO Flora & Fauna 2001; Diageo)
- Malts.com (Diageo): Hidden treasures, niche whisky brands to discover (Glen Elgin draws water from springs of Millbuies Loch; 12 and 18 Year Old)
- ScotchWhisky.net: Glen Elgin (founded 1898; owner Diageo; Speyside; no visitors; 12 Year Old)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)