Glentauchers
SCOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKIES > G
GLENTAUCHERS
20 years old
46 %
Distilled February 1965
Bottled March 1985
Proprietors: James Buchanan & Co, Ltd.
Wm. Cadenhead, 18 Golden Square,
Aberdeen
Distilled February 1965
Bottled March 1985
Proprietors: James Buchanan & Co, Ltd.
Wm. Cadenhead, 18 Golden Square,
Aberdeen
GLENTAUCHERS
14 years old
58,5 %
GLENTAUCHERS
Distilled 1990
Cask No. 14429
Bottled 2005
179 Bottles
Adelphi Distillery Limited
Purveyors of rare malt whiskies aged in wood and bottled direct from the cask Glenborrodale Castle, Abnamuchan, Argyll
The make from Glentauchers is not common - the last time it was bottled by its proprietor was in 2000 - and four independent bottlings from the same year as this one (1990) are fondly remembered.
This cask is a U.S. hogshead, and the whisky's colour is deep gold. The first impression on the nose is of dried fruits (including dried banana and glace orange peel), resolving into a light fruit cake complex, complete with toasted almonds and (later) icing sugar.
Water freshens the nose, making its more estery and Speyside-like. Green apples, sherbet and fenel were all noted, and later a sweet fudge-like aroma (tacky meringue) and zabagli-one. A creamy mouthfeel, with a sweet start, giving way to plessant acidity; surprisingly warming (in the mouth and down the gullet) and peppery on the tongue, finishing on the long side of medium. Drink with hard cheese.
geen leeftijd vermelding
40 %
Distilled: 1979
Trademark of Proprietors:
Allied Distillers Limited
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin
GLENTAUCHERS
Distilled: 1979
Trademark of Proprietors:
Allied Distillers Limited
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin
GLENTAUCHERS
11 years old
43%
Distilled March 1985
Bottled April 1996
Genummerde flessen
96 bottles
the dram good whisky co, ltd, edinburgh
GLENTAUCHERS
Distilled March 1985
Bottled April 1996
Genummerde flessen
96 bottles
the dram good whisky co, ltd, edinburgh
GLENTAUCHERS
11 years old
43 %
Distilled 27 march 1985
Bottled 24 October 1996
Cask no. 1647
168 Genummerde flessen
Usquebach Society, Holland
GLENTAUCHERS
Distilled 27 march 1985
Bottled 24 October 1996
Cask no. 1647
168 Genummerde flessen
Usquebach Society, Holland
GLENTAUCHERS
11 years old
40 %
Distilled: 1990
Bottled: 2001
Trademark of Proprietors
Allied Distillers
Limited Gordon & Macphail, Elgin
GLENTAUCHERS - GLENLIVET
Distilled: 1990
Bottled: 2001
Trademark of Proprietors
Allied Distillers
Limited Gordon & Macphail, Elgin
GLENTAUCHERS - GLENLIVET
24 years old
57,5 %
Speyside
AUTHENTIC COLLECTION
Cask Strenght
distilled 1977
Bottled October 2001
Cask: Bourbon Hogshead
No. of Bottles: 276
Distillery: Working
Wm. Cadenhead, Campbeltown, Argyll
GLENTAUCHERS
AUTHENTIC COLLECTION
Cask Strenght
distilled 1977
Bottled October 2001
Cask: Bourbon Hogshead
No. of Bottles: 276
Distillery: Working
Wm. Cadenhead, Campbeltown, Argyll
Wm. Cadenhead: An independent bottler, not connected with the distiller.
This whisky from an individual cask, has not been diluted with water, artificially coloured or chill filtered and is not the same as the product bottled by the distiller
The firm of William Cadenhead was founded in 1842. The company's registered office is still in Aberdeen though the centre of the commercial operations has been moved to Campbeltown where the bottling is carried out.
The business originaly was that of importers, bottlers and wholesalers of Scotch Malt Whisky and Rum.
Although rum, Irish whiskey and gin are still bottled, the firm pioneered The revival in the interest of single malt Scotch whisky and is now known world wide for it's bottlings of rare and old malt whiskies, originating from most of Scotland's and the world's distilleries.
15 years old
56.0 %
SINGLE CASK
SCOTCH MALT WHISKY
Date Distilled: Dec 89
Date Bottled: Apr 05
Outturn 190 Bottles
Society Cask Code 63.15
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
'Pollen and monkey blood'
SCOTCH MALT WHISKY
Date Distilled: Dec 89
Date Bottled: Apr 05
Outturn 190 Bottles
Society Cask Code 63.15
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
'Pollen and monkey blood'
This distillery near Keith was built by James Buchanan & Co in 1898, passed into the D.C.L. and was sold by them to Allied Distillers in 1985.
Its make is not bottled by the owner. This bottling is from a refill barrel, and the colour of the spirit is like uncut corn - a deep buttery gold. The nose is sharp to start, bur soon becomes buttery (shortbread), then more fragrant and fruity - like dried strawberries, strawberry flavoured Campinos, or 'monkey blood' poured over ice cream.
Hot, sweet and tongue-tingling at full strenght. Water decides its Speyside origin: estery, polythene and pollen, with a fatty note. The mouthfeel remains sparky and spritzich, with some acidity after a sweet start and an overall mouthcooling effect.
Aged 16 years
46 %
THE NC 2 RANGE
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Speyside Region
Unique Whiskies of Distinction
D.T.C.
Fons et Origo
Distilled 1990
Bottled 2007
No Chill Filtering or Colourings
Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd,
Huntly, Aberdeenshire
GLENTAUCHERS
THE NC 2 RANGE
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Speyside Region
Unique Whiskies of Distinction
D.T.C.
Fons et Origo
Distilled 1990
Bottled 2007
No Chill Filtering or Colourings
Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd,
Huntly, Aberdeenshire
GLENTAUCHERS
Aged 20 years
54.9%
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
FROM A SINGLE CASK
Society Single Cask No: 63.25
Distilled Dec.1989
Cask type: Refill Barrel / ex Bourbon
Outturn 211 bottles
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
"the magic of flowers"
FROM A SINGLE CASK
Society Single Cask No: 63.25
Distilled Dec.1989
Cask type: Refill Barrel / ex Bourbon
Outturn 211 bottles
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
"the magic of flowers"
We the Tasting Panel verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle hass been passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world
and approved for release as a Society bottling. Only single cask whiskies that promise to intrigue, entertain and delight our members are selected, true to our motto:
"TO LEAVE NO NOSE UPTURNED"
The nose blossoms from bubblegum to buttercups, snowdrops, croissants and kiwi fruit. Water brings oak, lime and many more flowers. The palate is smooth and delicious, with honeysuckle, elderflower, mild mint, pepper and loauds and loads of exotic fruits.
GLENTAUCHERS
1 9 9 1
18 years old
18 years old
43 %
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Trademark of Proprietors:
Allied Distillers Limited
Distilled: 1991
Bottled: 2009
Specially Selected Produced and Bottled
by and under the responsibility of
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin
GLENTAUCHERS
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Trademark of Proprietors:
Allied Distillers Limited
Distilled: 1991
Bottled: 2009
Specially Selected Produced and Bottled
by and under the responsibility of
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin
GLENTAUCHERS
Aged
18 years
46 %
CARN MOR
STRICTLY LIMITED
Scotch Single malt Whisky
"Speyside"
Distilled Glentauchers Distillery
Matured in Bourbon Barrel Casks
Distilled Februari 1996
Bottled Maart 2014
A strictly limited bottling of only
443 Bottles from 2 Casks
1 of only 118 Bottles
INTERNATIONAL WHISKY SOCIETY
Product of Scotland
Bottled by
Morrison & Mackay Whisky Merchants
CARN MOR
STRICTLY LIMITED
Scotch Single malt Whisky
"Speyside"
Distilled Glentauchers Distillery
Matured in Bourbon Barrel Casks
Distilled Februari 1996
Bottled Maart 2014
A strictly limited bottling of only
443 Bottles from 2 Casks
1 of only 118 Bottles
INTERNATIONAL WHISKY SOCIETY
Product of Scotland
Bottled by
Morrison & Mackay Whisky Merchants
Kleur: Donker goud / koper
Neus: Een combinative van fruit en nootjes met lichte kruiden en eikenhout
Smaak: Heerlijke karamel met daarna sinaasappel en laurier
Afdronk: Rond, diep en warm met veel nootjes.
Founded 1898
VINTAGE 1 9 9 6
43 %
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled 1996
Bottled 2015
Trademark of Proprietors:
Allied Distillers Limited
Specially selected, produced and bottled by
and under the responsibility of
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin. Regd. Bottler
The Worlds Leading Malt Whisky Specialist
Since 1895 Gordon & Macphail has worked with the majority of
Scotland's distilleries and today matured, selects and bottles
some of the world's finest and rarest Single malt Scotch Whiskies.
Glentauchers, founded in 1898 was started as a joint venture
between James Buchanan, the creator of the "Black & White"
and "Buchanan's blends and W.P. Lowrie.
The distillery was designed by local architect John Alcock.
Sherry influences with pear and stewed plum aromas, a hint of
liquorice develops. The palate has chilli spice with orange zest,
red apple and kiwi flavours.
GLENTAUCHERS
VINTAGE 1 9 9 6
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
19 years old
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled 1996
Bottled 2015
Trademark of Proprietors:
Allied Distillers Limited
Specially selected, produced and bottled by
and under the responsibility of
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin. Regd. Bottler
The Worlds Leading Malt Whisky Specialist
Since 1895 Gordon & Macphail has worked with the majority of
Scotland's distilleries and today matured, selects and bottles
some of the world's finest and rarest Single malt Scotch Whiskies.
Glentauchers, founded in 1898 was started as a joint venture
between James Buchanan, the creator of the "Black & White"
and "Buchanan's blends and W.P. Lowrie.
The distillery was designed by local architect John Alcock.
Sherry influences with pear and stewed plum aromas, a hint of
liquorice develops. The palate has chilli spice with orange zest,
red apple and kiwi flavours.
GLENTAUCHERS
VINTAGE 1 9 9 6
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
19 years old
46 %
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled: 06/02/96
Matured in a Bourbon Barrel
Cask no: 1401
Bottled: 04/06/15
Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Non Chill Filtered
Selected by The Ultimate Whisky Company. NL
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled: 06/02/96
Matured in a Bourbon Barrel
Cask no: 1401
Bottled: 04/06/15
Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Non Chill Filtered
Selected by The Ultimate Whisky Company. NL
Speyside
GLENTAUCHERS
Mulben, Banffshire. Licentiehouder: James Buchanan & Co, Ltd. Onderdeel van Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. Eigendom van Guinness.
De eerste steen voor Glentauchers werd gelegd op 29 Mei 1897. Het mouten begon in Mei en het brouwen in Juni 1898.
The Glentauchers Distillery Co was een gezamelijke onderneming van James Buchanan te Londen en W.P. Lowrie te Glasgow.
Buchanan voor zichzelf begonnen in 1884 bracht zijn eerste blend uit en werd daarbij geholpen door Lowrie.
De machinerie van Glentauchers werd door waterkracht in beweging gebracht.
Buchanan bracht zijn blend uit op een heel goed moment, de whiskymarkt explodeerde, en zijn eerste blend Buchanan's blend was een onmiddelijk succes.
Toen Glentauchers werd gebouwd was Buchanan, samen met Dewar en Walker één van de 'Big Three' whiskyhuizen.
De twee Schotse terriers op het etiket van zijn Black & White was een eigen uitvinding, Binnen een jaar had Buchanan zijn schuld aan Lowrie terugbetaald.
Als gevolg van het eindigen van de whiskyboom, ingeluid door het frauduleus bankroet op 7 December 1898 van de blenders Pattison, kwam Lowrie, net als zoveel anderen, in moeilij kneden.
Buchanan hielp zijn vriend en zakenpartner, en nam Lowrie over, en ook de Glentauchers distilleerderij.
In 1910 werd te Glentauchers geëxperimenteerd met het produceren van malt whisky in een patent still.
Buchanan had begin 1900 vijf malt distilleerderijen: Glentauchers, Dalwhinnie, Convalmore, Bankier, (in de Lowlands) en Lochruan (in Campbeltown).
In 1915
fuseerden Buchanan en Dewar.
In 1925
In 1925
fuseerden Buchanan en Dewar
en anderen met de Distillers Company Ltd.
Glentaiuchers werd onderdeel van
Glentaiuchers werd onderdeel van
Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd.
In 1925
In 1925
ging Glentauchers zijn eigen stroom
opwekken.
In 1955
In 1955
werd een stoommachine geeinstalleerd
om de uitbreiden distilleerderij van kracht
te voorzien en in 1958 werd Glentauchers
op het electriciteitsnet aangesloten.
In
In
1963
kwamen er twee ketels bij, en werden
de ketels met stoom verhit. Ook de mout-
vloeren verdwenen in dat jaar.
In
In
1965 kwamen er vier ketels bij.
Glentauchers was gesloten van 1985 tot 1989.
In Augustus 1989 koopt Allied Domecq
Glentauchers was gesloten van 1985 tot 1989.
In Augustus 1989 koopt Allied Domecq
Glentauchers.
Caledonian Malt Whisky Distillers Limited
Caledonian Malt Whisky Distillers Limited
bezit 6 distilleerderijen:
Laphroaig,
The Glendronach,
The Tormore,
Miltonduff,
Scapa
Balblair.
Vier single malt whiskies werden
korte tijd uitgebracht naar het
voorbeeld van de Classic Malts
van United Distillers:
Miltonduff 12 years old,
The Tormore 10 years old,
The Glendronach 'Traditional'
en Laphroaig 10 years old.
Overige distilleerderijen van de groep zijn:
Glenburgie, Glencadam
(Old) Pulteney,
Imperial,
Ardmore en
Ardbeg.
In Juni 1995 wordt (01d)Püliteney verkocht
aan Inver House, in Februari 1996 wordt Balblair
gesloten en ook verkocht aan Inver House.
Het water komt van Rosarie Burn.
De Mash tun is 11.9 ton.
De zes Wash backs hebben een inhoud van
60.000 liter elk.
De drie Wash stills hebben elk een inhoud
De drie Wash stills hebben elk een inhoud
van 17.875 liter, de Spirit stills elk 14.700 liter
en worden met stoom verhit.
De capaciteit van Glentauchers is
De capaciteit van Glentauchers is
2.50.000 liter spirit per jaar.
Allied Distillers Februari 2003
Dumbarton Distillery sluit. Het komplex waar ook het hoofdkantoor van Allied was gevestigd, hergde ook de Dumbarton Grain distilleerderij, en ook werden de malt whiskies Lomond, waarvan slechts één botteling bekend is, uitgebracht door de Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh onder code nummer 98.1, en Inverleven.
4 -De capaciteit van de Grain distilleerderij Strathclyde wordt vergroot tot 39 miljoen liter
spirit per jaar, dat was 32 miljoen liter.
Het hoofdkantoor wordt gevestigd te Kilmalid.
Het enorme gebouwencomplex is verkocht aan twee projectontwikkelaars.
Glentauchers is located three miles from Keith, on the road to Craigellachie, between open farmland and the edge of Craigellachie Forest. The foundation stone was laid on 29 May 1897, on one of the fields of Tauchers Farm, close to the railway line between Aberdeen and Inverness, from which a siding was brought into the site. The buildings, described by the Banffshire Herald as "substantial and commodious", were designed by an architect in Keith, John Alcock. They were laid out in the form of a square, and connected by double iron doors for protection against fire. The supply of water was admirably suitable for the production of whisky, and so plentiful that it could be used for power, thereby avoiding the cost of a steam engine. All machinery was originally turned by a turbine driven by water piped from a dam, three acres in extent,from which there was a fall of 28 feet. The distillery was completed, and fully equipped, within twelve months. Malting began in May, and brewing in June, of 1898.
The Glentauchers Distillery Co. was a private partnership, the principals of which were James Buchanan, of London, a whisky merchant, and W.P. Lowrie, of Glasgow, the stockholder who supplied him. In 1884, Buchanan had set up his own company, financed by credits from Lowrie, to sell his first brand, The Buchanan Blend. The launch was well timed, because total production of Scotch whisky approximately doubled over the next decade. By the time that Glentauchers was opened James Buchanan & Co. had become one of the "Big Three" whisky houses along with Dewar's and Walker's. When Lowrie retired, he sold a majority shareholding in his blending and bottling company, and his share in Glentauchers Distillery Co., to Buchanan.
Many years later, James Buchanan wrote about the first decisive step in his career. "Sometimes I marvel at the supreme self-confidence that upheld me - a young man without capital and practically no knowledge of the business I was embarking in ... The extraordinary thing is that the possibility of failure never once occurred to me. I had it always before me in my mind that sooner or later I was bound to make a success". He was sustained, although of course he did not say so, by an extraordinary capacity for making friends, and by a genius for salesmanship. Tall, slim and elegantly dressed, he attracted attention as he drove to and from his offices in the City, right in the shadow of the Mansion House. Originally, in the words of an associate, he drove "a very striking black pony and red-wheeled buggy, while seated behind was a spruce, dapper 'tiger' or page of perfect poise and deportment". Later he used a victoria and a brougham, "drawn by a particularly fine grey mare, or at other times a blue roan whose action and qualities were superb". Many stories, some based on fact, some mythical, were told about his techniques of brand promotion; but he himself attributed his success to his understanding of the minds, and the needs, of major customers.
At the end of his life, his youthful self-confidence had been marvellously vindicated. He had created a world-famous brand of Scotch whisky, Black & White, had been raised to the peerage as Lord Woolavington, had twice won the Derby, with Captain Cuttle and Coronach, owned estates in four continents, and had given enormous sums to hospitals and charitable causes. When he died, in his 86th year, he left over seven million pounds.
James Buchanan & Co., with other major Scotch whisky blenders, merged its interests within an enlarged Distillers Company Limited in 1925. Ownership of Glentauchers eventually passed to
Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd., a DCL subsidiary.
Extensive alterations and improvements to the makings and the mash-house had been made, and a large new spirit store had been built to the designs of Charles Doig & Son, Elgin, between 1923 and 1925. The stillhouse and receiver room were then described as "splendidly equipped". The whole of the premises was lighted by electricity and power for machinery was supplied by a water-turbine of 12 h.p. There was also a horizontal steam engine of 16 h.p. for stand-by pur-poses.Glentauchers was closed from 1939 to 1946 as a result of wartime restrictions on the supply of barley. By 1955, the horizontal steam engine was the motive force for all the machinery in the distillery and the makings. A smaller vertical steam engine drove the electric light generator and there were two turbines, one drawing water from the "big dam" and the other from the lower dam. The distillery was connected to the national grid in 1958, but used the supply at first only for lighting purposes. The steam engines and turbines were replaced by electric power at a later date.
The two stills, previously heated by coal-burning furnaces, were converted to internal heating by steam in 1963. The still-house, mash-house and tunroom were completely rebuilt in 1965-66, when the number of stills was increased to six.
Springs in the hills provide the water supply for all purposes. Their outflow is collected in two dams south of the road to Keith.
The licensed distillers are James Buchanan & Co. Ltd., blenders of Black & White, The Bu-chanan Blend and Buchanan's Reserve.
Glentauchers’ make has always gone into blends which lie on the lighter side of the flavour spectrum, initially Buchanan’s and Black & White, and these days Ballantine’s. Accordingly, the set up – long ferments, slow distillation – has always been one where flowers have been preferred to earthy weight.
Another member of the ‘1890s gang’, Glentauchers was established in 1898 by James Buchanan & Co. to provide fillings for its Buchanan’s and Black & White blends.
Experiments in ‘continuous pot still distillation’ were trialed here (and at Convalmore) at the start of the 20th century. This involved running a 100% barley mash through an adapted pot still. Production was upped considerably in 1966 when the number of stills increased from the original pair to half a dozen.
Glentauchers was one of the many distilleries which fell foul of the slump in demand in the early 1980s and was mothballed in 1895. It was, somewhat surprisingly at the time, snapped up by one of Diageo’s rivals, Allied Distillers, in 1989 [the Allied estate became part of Chivas Brothers in 2005] when it became a named component of Ballantine’s, although the firm didn’t restart production until 1992.
It is not commonly seen other than as a bottling from Gordon & MacPhail
1897
Glentauchers is established by
James Buchanan & Co and WP Lowrie
Architects are John Alcock and Charles Chree Doig
1898
Production starts
1903
The distillery is incorporated as
the Glentauchers-Glenlivet Distillery Co
1906
James Buchanan & Co takes over
company ownership and acquires a
80 % share in W.P. Lowrie
1910
Glentauchers begins experimenting
with continuous pot distillation
1925
James Buchanan & Co merges with DCL
1930
Glentauchers is transferred to Scottish
Malt Distillers (S.M.D.)
1966
A considerable investment sees the
stills extended from two to six
1969
Floor maltings is decommisioned
1985
The distillery is closed at a time of
low sales for Scotch whisky
1989
Glentauchers is bought by Caledonian
Malt Whisky Distillers a subsidiary of Allied
Distillers
1992
Production resumes
2005
Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard)
is the new owner through
the acquisition Allied Domecq
2017
A 15 year old is released in
the Ballantines Single Malt Series
Capacity: 4.200.000 Ltrs
Output: 4.000.000 Ltrs
2020
Pernod Ricard announced that Glentauchers
becomes the first distillery to be carbon - neutral
2021
A 23 year old is launched
CAPACITY (MLPA) i
4.1
CONDENSER TYPE i
Shell and tube
FERMENTATION TIME i
60hrs
GRIST WEIGHT (T) i
12.25
HEAT SOURCE i
Heavy fuel oil fired steam boiler
MALT SPECIFICATION i
Unpeated
MALT SUPPLIER i
Molson Coors, Burton
MASH TUN MATERIAL i
Stainless Steel
MASH TUN TYPE i
Lauter
NEW-MAKE STRENGTH i
68.5%
SPIRIT STILL CHARGE (L) i
6,700
SPIRIT STILL SHAPE i
Straight ogee
SPIRIT STILL SIZE (L) i
14,693
STILLS i
6 (3 wash, 3 spirit)
WASH STILL CHARGE (L) i
9,400
WASH STILL SHAPE i
Straight Ogee
WASH STILL SIZE (L) i
17,875
WASHBACK CHARGE (L) i
56,000
WASHBACK SIZE (L) i
60,000
WASHBACK TYPE i
Wood
WASHBACKS i
6
WATER SOURCE i
Dan fed by Rosarie Burn
WORT CLARITY i
Clear
YEAST TYPE i
Kerry Liquid
Pernod Ricard
2005 - present
Chivas Brothers
Allied Domecq
1994 - 2005
Allied Lyons
1989 - 1994
United Distillers
1986 - 1989
Distillers Company Limited
1925 - 1986
James Buchanan & Company
1906 - 1925
Glentauchers-Glenlivet Distillery Co
1903 - 1906
WP Laurie
1898 - 1903 (jointly with James Buchanan)
James Buchanan & Company
1898 - 1903 (jointly with WP Lowrie)
JAMES BUCHANAN
One of the famed ‘Whisky Barons’ of the late 19th century, James Buchanan overcame ill-health to make his blends some of the most popular in the world, amassing a huge fortune matched only by his legacy to the world of Scotch whisky.
The term ‘Whisky Barons’ is often loosely applied to the individuals who made their fortunes during the blended Scotch whisky boom of the second half of the 19th century, and who were ultimately recipients of honours from a grateful nation.
One such Baron was James Buchanan, whose name is inextricably linked with the Black & White blend which he created. Although elusive in the domestic market, more mature consumers have fond memories of its label, depicting a black ‘Scotty’ dog and a White ‘Westie’. Indeed, the story goes that Buchanan was inspired to use this image while returning home from a dog show.
James Buchanan was born in 1849 in Rockville, Ontario, Canada, where his parents Alexander and Catherine had emigrated, though much of his childhood was spent at Larne, on the Antrim coast of Northern Ireland, where his father was employed as a quarry manager,
Despite ill-health as a child, Buchanan began to work for Glasgow shipping agent William Sloan & Co at the age of 14, serving as office boy and then clerk. He then joined his brother William’s Glasgow-based grain business, before taking his first steps in the world of whisky as London-based agent for Charles Mackinlay & Co from 1879.
In their book The Making of Scotch Whisky, Michael S Moss and John R Hume describe Buchanan’s career with Mackinlay as ‘…short and unsuccessful’, but he fared rather better after forming James Buchanan & Co in 1884, aided by Glasgow blender William Lowrie, who initially provided Buchanan with his bespoke blend. Just a year after establishing his own company, The Buchanan Blend was being supplied to the Houses of Parliament.
Photographs of James Buchanan from this period show an elegant and immaculately dressed figure, and he shared a flair for publicity with fellow would-be whisky barons such as Tommy Dewar, being driven in a red-wheeled carriage, complete with liveried footman. Like Dewar, he was also quick to see the potential in advertising his whisky, first taking out newspaper adverts in 1887.
Sales grew dramatically on a global basis, with Buchanan establishing what ultimately became known as the Black & White blend as a smooth, refined, well-matured whisky with a relatively high malt content.
The blend required supplies of quality malt whisky to fuel its expansion, and in 1897 James Buchanan & Co Ltd combined with old associates WP Lowrie & Co Ltd to form the Glentauchers-Glenlivet Distillery Company. A distillery was constructed at Mulben, near the Speyside distilling town of Keith, with production commencing in June 1898.
That same year, Buchanan received Royal Warrants to supply whisky to Queen Victoria, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York and, when Buchanan & Co became a limited company five years later, James Buchanan was worth £750,000. By 1909, his whisky was the best-selling blend in England.
The early years of the 20th century saw Buchanan open offices in Paris, New York, Hamburg and Buenos Aires as the blend continued to flourish. In 1906, he bought WP Lowrie & Co and proceeded to make their Glasgow blending operation much more efficient. The following year, he invested in the North British Bottle Manufacturing Company and purchased the Acme Tea Chest Company.
Such was the ongoing success of Buchanan’s business that, in 1915, James Buchanan & Co Ltd merged with John Dewar & Sons Ltd, creating a company ultimately known as Buchanan-Dewar Ltd.
In 1922, the company acquired the Benrinnes-Glenlivet distillery near Aberlour, and by that time it already owned 11 Scottish distilleries, including Port Ellen, Royal Lochnagar, Aultmore, Dalwhinnie and Convalmore. Buchanan-Dewar Ltd became part of the Distillers Company Ltd (DCL) empire in 1925.
James Buchanan soon ceased to play an active part in the company’s affairs, having been plagued by ill-health all his life. He swapped the commercial world for the life of an English country gentleman, purchasing the Lavington Park estate near Petworth in Sussex, where he bred cattle and sheep, and established a successful thoroughbred stud.
Buchanan’s horses twice won the Epsom Derby and St Leger ‘classics’, with Hurry On landing the 1916 St Leger, while Captain Cuttle took the 1922 Derby and Coronach scored in both the Derby and St Leger of 1926.
Buchanan is said to have created Black & White after attending a dog show
In addition to Lavington Park, Buchanan owned land in Kenya and Argentina and, in partnership with Lord Aberdeen, operated a 20,000-acre fruit farm in British Columbia. Back home, he was appointed High Sheriff of Sussex in 1910, and was elected as a member of the Jockey Club in 1927.
James Buchanan became Sir James Buchanan in 1920, then was elevated to the peerage as Baron Woolavington two years later in the New Year’s Honours List.
Officially, the baronetcy was a reward for Buchanan’s undoubtedly extensive charitable activities – in the best traditions of his time, he was a generous philanthropist – but he also allegedly paid £50,000 to Lloyd George’s government in return for his honour. Lloyd George was known to view the honours system as a useful means of raising revenue, so the story may well be true.
Buchanan was nothing if not shrewd, however, and reputedly signed his cheque with the name ‘Woolavington’, dating it 2 January – the day after the title was officially to be announced – so that no payment would be made unless the promised baronetcy was forthcoming.
Buchanan had married Annie Eliza Pounder, a widow 13 years his junior, in 1891, and their only son died in infancy. This meant that, when Buchanan died in August 1935 at the age of 85, the baronetcy became extinct, although the couple also had a daughter, Catherine. Buchanan’s estate was worth in excess of £7m, or more than £450m in today’s terms.
His legacy to the world of Scotch whisky was equally significant. By insisting that his whiskies should be well-aged and have a significant malt content, James Buchanan did much to make blended Scotch both popular and respectable, and played a leading role in helping it to become a drink for the world.
2017 Ballantines launched 3 Single Malt Whiskies; Glenburgie 15 years old 40 %, Miltonduff 15 years old 40 % and Glentauchers 15 years old 40 %.
Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs
Choice Collection
November 2018
Colour: Amber
Region: Speyside
Distilled: Thursday, 20 June, 1991
Bottled: Thursday, 6 September, 2018
Years old: 27
Cask No.: 6943
Cask Type: First fill Sherry butt
Outturn: 473 bottles
Batch: 18/100
Connoisseurs Choice Tasting Notes :
Aroma: Polished oak and twists of fresh
orange join aromas of stewed forest fruits:
blackcurrant and blackberry, subtle sherry
and demerara sugar notes linger.
Taste: Well-rounded; warming cinnamon and
nutmeg evolve into roasted coffee bean and
creamy chocolate flavours, tangy orange marmalade,
the heart of the dram, persists throughout.
Finish: A perfect winter dram, coffee and chocolate
develop into mature oak.
Personal tasting notes Official sample provided by
Gordon & MacPhail
Nose: A nice balance of oak polished with finest
beeswax, autumnal fruits macerated in subtle sherry
and maple syrup notes, with a hint of tangy orange
peel and a whiff of wood smoke.
Taste: Warming Christmas spices combines with tangy
orange marmalade while the character of the sherry makes
its presence felt. Later mocha and chocolate flavours
develop to add a creaminess punctuated by the lingering
presence of the zesty orange with just a hint of smoke.
Finish: Lengthy lingering undercurrents of mature wood
define the finish.
A pleasing, well-rounded dram: the epitome of a winter
toddy
Glentauchers 33yo ‘Lost In Time’ 51.9% Fuller and more bready to start. There’s salted peanut, then pollen-heavy
flowers, and cooked apple. Some concentrated, mature notes alongside browning butter. The palate starts softly sweet with syrupy fruits, then comes meadow hay. It’s slightly spiky without water resulting in a bit of a tussle between the alcohol and the fruits. Water makes things a little drier and opens up to nougat and coconut, but the struggle remains unresolved. ***