Glenesk

The Glenesk was built on what was once a flax-spinning mill. In 1897, the Dundee wine merchant James Isles and Septimus Parsonage and Co converted the buildings, founding the distillery under the name Highland Esk. The name changed several times during its lifetime, the first time was in 1899, when J F Caille Heddle purchased the distillery and renamed it North Esk.

Following a devastating fire in 1910, much of the distillery had to be rebuilt. The distillery closed during the Second World War, reopening in 1938 under the name Montrose, named for the village in which it stands, at the bands of the River Esk, having been acquired by Associated Scottish Distillers. During this time the distillery had been used to produce grain whisky. In 1964, the distillery was renamed Hillside. By this time much of the whisky had been used in the famous William Sanderson blend VAT 69.

It was not until 1980 that the distillery became known as Glenesk, closing just five years later, cancelling the license 1992. The UK’s largest malt producer, Greencore Maltings Group, acquired Glenesk in 1997. Today bottlings are rare and appear under the variety of names the distillery had been entitled over the years.

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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

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Name Price

Glen Esk 1984 - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon and MacPhail)

(70cl, 43%)

Glenesk

Distilled at Glen Esk in 1984 and aged for 20 years before bottling in 2004 for Gordon and MacPhail's Connoisseur's Choice range. More info

$175.75

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