🥃 The Glenturret

The Glenturret is a distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand near the town of Crieff in Perthshire. It is one of Scotland's smallest distilleries and claims to be the oldest, although that claim is disputed. Since 2019 it has been owned by a joint venture that includes Lalique Group.

History. According to tradition, an illegal still called The Hosh operated on the site in the 1770s. John Drummond began licensed production in 1818, and the name Glenturret has been used since 1875. The distillery itself refers to records from 1763, but Whiskypedia considers its claim to be the oldest unconvincing, so the sources give different dates. The distillery was dismantled in 1928. In 1960 James Fairlie restored it in the old buildings, buying stills and a mash tun from Tullibardine. Later owners included Rémy Cointreau, Highland Distillers and Edrington; in 2019 it passed to a new owner.

How it is made. The mash tun takes only about one tonne of grist at a time, the washbacks are wooden, and the stills look rather rustic. According to Whiskypedia, the spirit is light, slightly acidic and intense. Alongside the standard malt, the distillery also makes a heavily peated malt, Ruadh Mhor ('Big Red'), which under the previous owner went into The Famous Grouse Smoky Black.

Range. Like any single malt Scotch, the whisky must mature in oak for at least three years and have an ABV of at least 40%. The releases include peated versions and series created together with Lalique. The distillery welcomes visitors; the address is The Hosh, Crieff.

Why this matters to you. A claim to be the oldest distillery is part of the brand's story, not a guarantee of quality or taste. Judge a whisky by its label and age statement. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.