| History |
1794 : John Manson (1762-1838) founder with his younger brother Alexander (1770-1847). They built Glen Garioch distillery and a brewery on the site of an old tannery which had a water supply from the Percock Hills.
1798 : Thomas Simpson purchased both the distillery and the brewery.
1827 : Ingram, Lamb & Co became new owners and expanded the buildings.
1937 : Era of 2 names, as Glen Garioch was bought by the Strathmeldrum Distillery Company headed by John Manson Junr, son of founder, who funded his purchase.
The distillery was still called Glen Garioch.
1856 : Inverury and Old Meldrum Junction Railway opened bringing mechanised transport. Whisky casks no longer sent to Aberdeen by ox cart.
1884 : JG Thomson & Co of Leith (principal Joseph Thomson) becomes new owner.
1886 : William Sanderson of Leith, of VAT 69 fame, purchased a 50% interest in JG Thomson & Co. Twelve men employed under manager Jimmy Shand, who starts pig farm in distillery grounds. Local peat dug.
1921 : After 35 years of Sanderson half-ownership, William Mark Sanderson, son of William Sanderson, with other investors, founded the Glengarioch Distillery Co Ltd to take 100% ownership.
1933 : Booth’s Distilleries Ltd became new owner.
1937 : Scottish Malt Distillers (SMD), part of DCL, purchased Glen Garioch
1939 : World War II: Distillery closed and some buildings used as army dormitories. SMD restored production in peacetime.
1968 : SMD closed the distillery because of limited water source and offered it for sale.
1970 : Stanley P Morrison Ltd paid £150,000 for the distillery. Low level production resumed.
1972 : Glen Garioch becomes the first distillery in Scotland to gas fire its stills. New water source is found at Coutens Farm.
1977 : Planning permission obtained for Greenhouse project to make use of waste heat.
1978 : Greenhouse project supervised by BBC Scotland’s Jim McColl attracts initial publicity. North Sea oil boom brings streams of visitors and expansion from 2 to 3 stills. Small visitor centre opened.
1988 : Glen Garioch displayed a mini-distillery and greenhouse at Glasgow Garden Festival and is honoured with visits from Prince Charles, Princess Diana and Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher.
1994 : July: Suntory Ltd became owner.
1995 : October: Closed
1997 : Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd, wholly owned subsidiary of Suntory Ltd, became owner. Distillery re-opened.
|