Glen Scotia distillery facts for kids

Glen Scotia distillery, also known as The Scotia or Old Scotia, is a famous place in Scotland that makes single malt Scotch whisky. It was started way back in 1832. Today, it's one of only three distilleries left in Campbeltown, which is the smallest whisky region in Scotland.

Quick facts for kids
Glen Scotia distillery

Glen Scotia Distillery
Region: Campbeltown
Owner	Loch Lomond Group
Founded	1832
Status	Operational
Water source	Crosshill Loch
No. of stills	1 wash (16,000 L), 1 spirit (12,000 L)
Capacity	600,000 litres
Glen Scotia
Age(s)	Double Cask 46% ABV 15 Year Old 46% ABV Victoriana 52.2% ABV 18 Year Old 46% ABV 25 Year Old 48.8%

Glen Scotia Victoriana Single Malt

The History of Glen Scotia Distillery

Glen Scotia Distillery began making whisky in 1832. This means it has been working for over 180 years! It is located in Campbeltown, one of Scotland's five main whisky-making areas.

Campbeltown: A Whisky Town

Campbeltown is a small town on the Kintyre Peninsula in western Scotland. People sometimes call it the "Wee Toon." It was once known as the "Victorian Whisky Capital of the World." In the 1800s, there were 21 distilleries in this tiny town. Back then, about 170 distilleries were operating in the whole UK.

Today, only three distilleries are still open in Campbeltown. These are Glen Scotia, Springbank, and Glengyle. They help us understand the long history of whisky making in this special region.

Early Years and Changes

When it first started in 1832, the distillery was called 'Scotia'. Stewart & Galbraith and Company owned it for almost 60 years. Later, in 1891, a well-known businessman named Duncan MacCallum bought it. He built the large front part of the distillery that you can see along High Street.

In 1933, the Bloch Brothers took over the distillery. Production stopped for a short time in 1942 because of the Second World War. But it started up again in early 1945.

Over the years, Glen Scotia changed owners several times. In 2014, the Loch Lomond Group bought the distillery. They have invested a lot of money to make it better. They improved the brand, made more whisky, and opened new storage buildings. They also created a visitor center for people to explore.

Glen Scotia Today

Much of the distillery's original design is still there today. This includes the mash tun, where grains are mixed, and the stillroom. The old dunnage warehouse, used for storing whisky, dates back to the 1830s.

Glen Scotia distillery has a small team of only eight people. This includes the distillery manager and people who work in the visitor center. The visitor center is open every day. You can take tours, try whiskies, and buy whisky or gifts in a shop that looks like it's from the Victorian era.

Glen Scotia Whisky Range

Glen Scotia makes five main types of single malt whisky. Each one has a special taste.

• Double Cask - 46% alcohol
• 15 Year Old - 46% alcohol
• Victoriana - 54.2% alcohol
• 18 Year Old - 46% alcohol
• 25 Year Old - 48.8% alcohol

Glen Scotia whiskies often taste like toffee, the sea, and a little bit of smoke. This is a common flavor for whiskies from Campbeltown.

Glen Scotia Pot Still 2017

Iain Mcalister Glen Scotia's Master Distiller

Special Whisky Releases

The distillery tries to keep an authentic 'Campbeltown Malt style' in all its whiskies. The Victoriana whisky, for example, tries to bring back the taste of classic Victorian Campbeltown malts. Glen Scotia also makes special whiskies for local events. One example is a bottling made to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Campbeltown Picture House.

Every year, during the Campbeltown Malt Whisky Festival, Glen Scotia releases a special limited edition whisky. In 2019, it was a 15-year-old whisky finished in rum barrels. In 2020, it was a 14-year-old finished in Tawny Port barrels. In 2023, they released an 11-year-old whisky finished in white port barrels. They also make other special small batches of whisky.

How Glen Scotia Whisky is Made

The distillery gets its water from Crosshill Loch in Campbeltown. This water is very important for making whisky.

Barley and Stills

Glen Scotia uses different kinds of malted barley. Some barley has no smoky taste, some has a medium smoky taste, and some is very smoky.

The distillery has one large wash still, which holds 11,800 litres. It also has one spirit still, which holds 8,600 litres. These stills are made of copper and are shaped like onions, with wide, short necks.

Washbacks and Production

Inside the distillery, there are nine washbacks. These are large tanks where the liquid ferments. They are all made of stainless steel. The old washbacks, which were over 40 years old, were made from a special type of steel called COR-TEN.

Glen Scotia currently produces about 700,000 litres of whisky each year.

Awards and Recognition

Glen Scotia's whiskies have won many awards from important competitions. These include the San Francisco World Spirits Awards and the World Whisky Awards.

In 2021, Glen Scotia was named the producer of the "World's Best Whisky" at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. That same year, it also won "Best Scottish Whisky Distillery" at the Scottish Whisky Awards. It was the first time any distillery had won both awards in the same year!