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Closed Distilleries

Scotland's closed distilleries are almost always the most popular and highly sought after amongst whisky collectors and the cognoscenti. Their whisky has become legendary, and not just for its flavour, but for the fact it is incredibly rare and hard to find, though it was once very different...

Scotland was once home to hundreds of distilleries, and in the peak of the 19th century, there were over two hundred of them in operation! This number quickly started to dwindle, as distilleries started closing for various economic reasons.

US Prohibition killed off a number of distilleries whose main income came from export to America, and shortly after the UK was stricken by the economic depression of the 1920s and 1930s. After the Second World War around 70 distilleries closed down for good, though as the UK slowly started to build itself back up again the popularity and growth of whisky continued to increase up until the 1980s, when economic difficulties forced the industry to make cut backs. At that time, blended Scotch was the most popular style of whisky, whilst single malts only really become popular comparatively recently. The result of this was that when cut backs were made, it was done with blended whisky in mind. Smaller distilleries closed, as did those whose whisky didn’t make much of an impact when used as a blending component.

The whisky industry is back on the rise now, and increased interest in single malts has even brought about the reopening of several distilleries. With this in mind, the lost distilleries of the 20th century will always have a special place in our hearts, distilleries like ,> St Magdalene, the intensely smoky Brora , Dallas Dhu , and the epic Port Ellen, amongst many, many others...

Port Ellen 40 Year Old - Untold Stories Series

70cl, 50.9%
Port Ellen

Another incredible expression from the Port Ellen Untold Stories Series, this time feature 40 year old (!) single malt from the legendary closed distillery on the south coast of Islay. This…  More info

Port Ellen 40 Year Old - Untold Stories Series
1
$6,601.68

North Port Brechin 40 Year Old 1976 (cask 3887) - Cask Strength Collection Rare Reserve (Signatory)

70cl, 50.4%
North Port

A very rare release of single malt Scotch whisky from North Port-Brechin (the distillery had various named during its lifetime, two most notably North Port and Brechin), which closed in 1983 and was…  More info

North Port Brechin 40 Year Old 1976 (cask 3887) - Cask Strength Collection Rare Reserve (Signatory)
$2,328.50

Littlemill 12 Year Old

70cl, 40%
Littlemill

An official bottling from the now silent distillery, Littlemill. This 12 year old has a very unusual flavour. This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos…  More info

Littlemill 12 Year Old
4
$408.38

Caperdonich 27 Year Old 1992 (cask 4125633) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

70cl, 56%
Caperdonich

A 27 year old single malt from the sadly closed Caperdonich Distillery, independently bottled by Duncan Taylor for the Octave series. This expression has been finished in a small octave cask, which…  More info

Caperdonich 27 Year Old 1992 (cask 4125633) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)
$738.91

Port Ellen 20 Year Old 1978 - Rare Malts

70cl, 60.9%
Port Ellen

This is a classic Rare Malts bottling of single malt Scotch whisky from the infamous, though sadly closed, Port Ellen distillery on Islay. Matured for 20 years after being distilled in 1978, it was…  More info

Port Ellen 20 Year Old 1978 - Rare Malts
1
$2,558.79

Caperdonich 23 Year Old 1997 - The Nectar of the Daily Drams

70cl, 53.6%
Caperdonich

A cracking single malt from Caperdonich, which sadly ceased distilling in 2001. Distilled in 1997 this expression spent 23 years maturing until it was eventually bottled up by Belgian indie bottle…  More info

Caperdonich 23 Year Old 1997 - The Nectar of the Daily Drams
$416.08

Littlemill 19 Year Old 1991 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)

70cl, 50%
Littlemill

A bottle of Littlemill 19 Year Old 1991 Lowland single malt Scotch whisky. It was matured in a single refill hogshead cask before it was bottled in November 2010 by Douglas Laing for the Old Malt…  More info

Littlemill 19 Year Old 1991 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)
$460.58

Convalmore 32 Year Old 1984 (Special Release 2017)

70cl, 48.2%
Convalmore

Convalmore is a familiar face in the Diageo Special Releases line-ups, with the 2017 outturn marking the closed distillery's fourth appearance in the series. And this superb 32 year old shows exactly…  More info

Convalmore 32 Year Old 1984 (Special Release 2017)
$1,345.92
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Brora 1982 (bottled 1999) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

70cl, 40%
Brora

A vintage Gordon & MacPhail of Brora single malt Scotch whisky. It was distilled in 1982, a year before the distillery was mothballed. It was bottled as part of the Connoisseurs Choice in 1999.…  More info

Brora 1982 (bottled 1999) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)
$1,022.49

Dallas Dhu 21 Year Old 1975 - Rare Malts

70cl, 61.9%
Dallas Dhu

This is a 21 year old Dallas Dhu single malt Scotch whisky, bottled as part of the Rare Malts collection. A 1975 vintage whisky from a long closed distillery - as you can imagine, it's not every day…  More info

Dallas Dhu 21 Year Old 1975 - Rare Malts
$1,022.49

The Cally 40 Year Old 1974 (Special Release 2015)

70cl, 53.3%
Caledonian

A single grain whisky in the Special Releases! The first since 2011's Port Dundas and only the second ever as far as we can remember. Caledonian grain distillery in Edinburgh closed in 1988 and is…  More info

The Cally 40 Year Old 1974 (Special Release 2015)
1
$1,279.40

Littlemill 1991 (bottled 2015) (Lot No. RO/15/04) - Rare Old (Gordon & MacPhail)

70cl, 45.5%
Littlemill

Independently bottled single malt Scotch whisky from the sadly departed Littlemill distillery, which was mothballed back in 1992 - this whisky was distilled a year prior to this sad occasion. It was…  More info

Littlemill 1991 (bottled 2015) (Lot No. RO/15/04) - Rare Old (Gordon & MacPhail)
$1,022.49

Port Ellen 39 Year Old 1982 - Xtra Old Particular The Black Series (Douglas Laing)

70cl, 53.7%
Port Ellen

The Xtra Old Particular Black series rarely disappoints and when you bottled Port Ellen from the early eighties, you know you're onto a winner. This particular single malt Scotch whisky from Islay's…  More info

Port Ellen 39 Year Old 1982 - Xtra Old Particular The Black Series (Douglas Laing)
$3,889.37

Glen Albyn 26 Year Old 1975 - Rare Malts

70cl, 54.8%
Glen Albyn

A cask strength bottling from the now closed Glen Albyn distillery, distilled in 1975 and bottled at 26 years old in 2001. This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more…  More info

Glen Albyn 26 Year Old 1975 - Rare Malts
$1,022.49

Banff 21 Year Old 1982 - Rare Malts

70cl, 57.1%
Banff

A cask strength 21 year old bottling from Diageo's Rare Malts range, this 1982 vintage proffers a last chance to own a bottle from the Banff distillery, closed for over 15 years. These bottles…  More info

Banff 21 Year Old 1982 - Rare Malts
$1,228.22

Rosebank 21 Year Old 1990 (2011 Special Release)

70cl, 53.8%
Rosebank

A sublime 21 year old Rosebank, bottled for Diageo's Special Releases. There are just 5,604 numbered bottles worldwide, and we expect them to sell out very fast. This was aged in refill American oak…  More info

Rosebank 21 Year Old 1990 (2011 Special Release)
2
$2,046.01

Imperial 1979 (bottled 2021) - Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail)

70cl, 49.2%
Imperial

Stunning whisky from the now-closed Imperial distillery. This single malt was distilled all the way back in 1979 and was bottled by Gordon & MacPhail for its Private Collection.  More info

Imperial 1979 (bottled 2021) - Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail)
$3,070.60

Dallas Dhu 50 Year Old 1969 - Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail)

70cl, 43.1%
Dallas Dhu

A very impressive 50 year old single malt from the Dallas Dhu Distillery, originally known as Dallasmore. Sadly the distillery closed in 1983, but this whisky was distilled back in 1969 and filled…  More info

Dallas Dhu 50 Year Old 1969 - Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail)
$7,076.30

North Port Brechin 24 Year Old 1976 (cask 3903) - First Cask

70cl, 46%
North Port

Not your everyday sighting. It's a bottle of North Port distilled in 1976, and bottled 24 years later by First Cask. One for the collectors of whiskies from the now-closed Highland…  More info

North Port Brechin 24 Year Old 1976 (cask 3903) - First Cask
$510.73

Brora 21 Year Old 1982 (cask 281) - First Cask

70cl, 46%
Brora

From The First Cask Malt Whisky Circle bottlings put together by Direct Wines Ltd. this is a remarkable 21-year-old single malt from the legendary Brora. It was laid down at the long-lost distillery…  More info

Brora 21 Year Old 1982 (cask 281) - First Cask
$1,279.40

Littlemill 20 Year Old 1992 - Finest Collection (Hart Brothers)

70cl, 46%
Littlemill

Collectors will love this. Since the 19th century Hart Brothers has been bottling fine Scotch like this 20-year-old Littlemill, distilled back in 1992 and matured in a first-fill sherry butt before…  More info

Littlemill 20 Year Old 1992 - Finest Collection (Hart Brothers)
$460.58

Rosebank 1989 (bottled 1999) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

70cl, 40%
Rosebank

Rosebank from before the distillery closed which was selected by revered independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail. That is a surefire formula for success and you can bet it will be a delicious whisky.…  More info

Rosebank 1989 (bottled 1999) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)
$715.44

Rosebank 21 Year Old - The Roses Edition #6 'Unity'

70cl, 52.7%
Rosebank

A rather rare offering from the Rosebank distillery, which ceased operation back in 1993. This sought-after Lowlander spent 21 years maturing in a combo of bourbon and Madeira casks, independently…  More info

Rosebank 21 Year Old - The Roses Edition #6 'Unity'
$4,093.04

Glenesk 12 Year Old (WM Sanderson) - 1980s

75cl, 40%
Glenesk

Glenesk was an old malt and grain distillery that went through many hands and sadly all that remains of the old site today is the maltings. If you'd like to enjoy a taste of whisky history, this is a…  More info

Glenesk 12 Year Old (WM Sanderson) - 1980s
$358.23

Dallas Dhu 25 Year Old 1979 (cask 1380) - Chieftain's (Ian MacLeod)

70cl, 55%
Dallas Dhu

Indie, collectible Dallas Dhu single malt, distilled in 1979 and matured in a single sherry butt for a quarter of a century. At 25 years old, Ian MacLeod bottled the Speysider in 2004, with 498…  More info

Dallas Dhu 25 Year Old 1979 (cask 1380) - Chieftain's (Ian MacLeod)
$715.44

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