About Glenesk Whisky Distillery
Distillery Founded
1897
Distillery Owner
Diageo
Distillery Status
Dismantled
Distillery Address
Hillside, By Montrose, Angus
1897
The distillery is founded by James Isles. The first name is Highland Esk Distillery.
1898
The distillery is sold to Septimus Parsonage & Co. Ltd in London.
1899
The distillery is bought by J. F. Caille Heddle and the name changes to North Esk Distillery.
1910
A fire breaks out and the distillery has to be rebuilt.
1919
Thomas Bernard & Co. buys the distillery but only uses the maltings under the name North Esk Maltings.
1938
Production restarts headed by Joseph Hobbs and Associated Scottish Distillers. The distillery is converted into a grain distillery and the name is changed to Montrose Distillery.
1954
The distillery is bought by Distillers Company Limited (DCL) who uses the facilities for storage and malting.
1959
DCL resumes grain distilling.
1964
DCL transfers operations to Scottish Malt Distillers (SMD) who starts malt distilling. The name changes to Hillside.
1968
A large drum maltings is built adjacent to the distillery.
1980
Name changes to Glenesk Distillery & Maltings.
1985
The distillery closes in December.
1995
Hillside 1969 is launched as a Rare Malt.
1996
The last pieces of equipment are taken down. Hillside 1970 (25 years) is launched as a Rare Malt.
1997
Hillside 1971 is launched as a Rare Malt. The maltings is sold to Paul´s Malt.
Reproduced from the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2009 with the kind permission of Mr Ingvar Ronde