🥃 Glengoyne
Distillery and single malt brand on the Highland Line near Glasgow; since 1833; slow distillation, no peat; owned by Ian Macleod Distillers.
Glengoyne is a distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand in Dumgoyne, north of Glasgow. It sits on the border of the Highlands and the Lowlands: the still house is in the Highlands, while the warehouses with casks are across the road, in the Lowlands. It has operated continuously since 1833, and has belonged to Ian Macleod Distillers since 2003.
History. According to Whiskypedia, production began in 1833 under George Connell, later the McClelland family. It was first called Burnfoot (from 1851); in 1876 the Lang Brothers gave it the name Glen Guin, and the official name Glengoyne has been used since 1905. Later owners were Robertson & Baxter (from 1965), Edrington (1999) and Ian Macleod, which bought it in April 2003, reportedly for £7.2 million.
How it's made. Three stills: one wash still and two spirit stills; each has a boil bulb that increases contact between the spirit and the copper. Distillation is very slow, and fermentation lasts up to 56 hours. The malt is unpeated, with no phenols. According to Whiskypedia, capacity is 1.1 million litres of pure alcohol per year.
Range. Expressions include 10, 12, 15 and 18 years, as well as cask strength releases; according to Whiskypedia, maturation mainly takes place in sherry casks.
Why it matters to you. 'Highland single malt matured in the Lowlands' describes the location, not a separate protected category: the law only requires that maturation takes place in Scotland. Look at the age and strength. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1833, Dumgoyne (originally Burnfoot); the name Glengoyne from 1905 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Highland) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | unpeated barley malt (0 ppm) |
| Distillation method | twice, 3 copper stills (1 wash + 2 spirit), slow distillation |
| Cask type | mainly ex-sherry butts |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law; expressions — 10, 12, 15, 18 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40% ABV by law |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Glengoyne → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Sherry, 🍷 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, 🥃 Highland whisky
- Related to
- 🥃 Lowland whisky, 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Glenfiddich
Frequently asked questions
Is it true Glengoyne is both Highland and Lowland?
In effect, yes: the still house is in the Highlands and the warehouses are across the road in the Lowlands. The producer calls its whisky Highland.
Is Glengoyne peated?
No: according to Whiskypedia, the malt has 0 ppm, so the whisky has no peat smoke.
How many stills does the distillery have?
Three: one wash still and two spirit stills; the third was added after the 1966 rebuild.
Who owns Glengoyne?
Ian Macleod Distillers since 2003; before that Edrington (1999–2003).
When was Glengoyne founded?
In 1833; the name Glengoyne has been official since 1905.
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.
- 🧪 Water — ~87% of milk.
- 🌍 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.
Similar
🥃 Loch Lomond Distillery · 🥃 Ben Nevis · 🥃 Teaninich · 🥃 Blair Athol · 🥃 Glen Ord · 🥃 Auchentoshan
⚠️ 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
- 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)
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Glengoyne (1833, Burnfoot, Glen Guin 1876, Glengoyne 1905, Lang Bros, Robertson & Baxter, Edrington, Ian Macleod 2003, 3 stills, slow distillation, 1.1 mlpa)
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Ian Macleod Distillers (Broxburn; bought Glengoyne from Edrington in April 2003)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)