Glenugie

SCOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKIES > G

GLENUGIE

30 years old

58 %
VINTAGE 1966
Distilled 1.3.66
Bottled 4.11.96
Cask No. 848
180 bottles
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

GLENUGIE

Aged 30 years

46.7 %

SINGLE MALT SCOTCH

WHISKY FROM A SINGLE CASK

EASTERN HIGHLANDS

Distilled May 1980

Cask Type: Refill Butt / Ex Sherry

Outturn 228 Bottles

Society Single Cask No: 99.12

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults,

Leith, Edinburgh

Medieval banquet

We, the Tasting Panel, verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle has been

passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world and approved for re-

lease 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”

Weirdly complex – yeast, red grapes, linseed oil, ham & pickle crisps, winey – garlicky

cheese fondue, white jasmine, strawberry shortcake fruit corner and Schweppes

lemonade – everything at once like a medieval banquet.

A savoury palate; brown sauce covered cold Scotch pie and more of those crisps but al-

so lovely peachy – mango coulis, Canada Dry ginger ale and a dry peppery heat.

Dry in reduction like an Oloroso sherry, wet clay, window putty, pork chops & apple

sauce, Irn Bru. Wham or Refreshers bars – we couldn’t decide.

To taste we thought the complexity was lost; it became dusty, with mutton, leather

and starfruit.

This Peterhead distillery closed in 1983.

GLENUGIE

16 years old

43 %
VINTAGE 1980
Distilled 23.5.80
Bottled 6.2.97
Cask No. 3660-61
604 bottles
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

GLENUGIE

19 years old

57,4%
SILENT STILLS
Distilled 21.4.78
Bottled 15.5.97
Cask No. 2407
220 bottles
Glenugie Distillery
Peterhead Long John Distilleries Ltd
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

GLENUGIE

31 years old

53,9%
SILENT STILLS
Distilled 31.12.66
Bottled 5.6.98
Cask No. 5082
206 bottles
Glenugie Distillery
Peterhead Long John Distilleries Ltd
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

GLENUGIE

27 years old

54,6 %
VINTAGE 1973
Distilled 7.12.73
Bottled 14.1.00
Cask No. 6542
Matured in a sherry cask
Genummerde flessen
Natural Colour
186 bottles
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

GLENUGIE

32 years old

40 %
RARE OLD
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Distilled 1968
Bottled 2000
Proprietors: Long John Distillers Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

GLENUGIE

26 years old

50 %
THE OLD MALT CASK 50o
A Single Cask Bottling
Distilled May 1976
Bottled May 2002
282 bottles
No Chill Filtration
No Colouring
Douglas Laing & Co, Ltd, Glasgow

GLENUGIE

14 years old

60,5 %

Distilled April 1978
Bottled October 1992

SOCIETY SINGLE CASK CODE: 99.01
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh

We, the Tasting Panel, verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle has been

passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world and approved for re-

lease 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”

A savoury palate; brown sauce covered cold Scotch pie and more of those crisps but al-

so lovely peachy – mango coulis, Canada Dry ginger ale and a dry peppery heat.

Dry in reduction like an Oloroso sherry, wet clay, window putty, pork chops & apple

sauce, Irn Bru. Wham or Refreshers bars – we couldn’t decide.

To taste we thought the complexity was lost; it became dusty, with mutton, leather

and starfruit.

This Peterhead distillery closed in 1983.

Kastanjebruin van kleur. Heel veel sherry in de neus. Medium body. Zoet en fruitig van smaak met toffees, sultanas, moscatel en druiven. Ondanks hoog alcoholpercentage niet aanlengen met water.

GLENUGIE

14 years old

60 %
Distilled April 1978
Bottled October 1992
SOCIETY SINGLE CASK CODE: 99.2
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh

We, the Tasting Panel, verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle has been

passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world and approved for re-

lease 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”

Weirdly complex with red crapes, white jasmine, strawberry shortcake, Schweppes

Lemonade, Scotch pies, ham & pickle crisps and peach mango coulis.

Dry in reduction with wet clay, window putty, pork chops & apple sauce while to

taste leather and mutton.

Weirdly complex – yeast, red grapes, linseed oil, ham & pickle crisps, winey – garlicky

cheese fondue, white jasmine, strawberry shortcake fruit corner and Schweppes

lemonade – everything at once like a medieval banquet.

A savoury palate; brown sauce covered cold Scotch pie and more of those crisps but al-

so lovely peachy – mango coulis, Canada Dry ginger ale and a dry peppery heat.

Dry in reduction like an Oloroso sherry, wet clay, window putty, pork chops & apple

sauce, Irn Bru. Wham or Refreshers bars – we couldn’t decide.

To taste we thought the complexity was lost; it became dusty, with mutton, leather

and starfruit.

This Peterhead distillery closed in 1983.

Gelagerd in een voor de eerste maal gebruikt sherry vat. Okergeel van kleur. In de neus toffee en fruit, citrusvruchten en appels. De smaak is moutig en met sherry. Likeurachtige afdronk.

GLENUGIE

32 years old

56,6 %

Distilled February 1965
Bottled May 1997
SOCIETY SINGLE CASK CODE 99.6
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh

complex and intriguing

We, the Tasting Panel, verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle has been

passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world and approved for re-

lease 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”

GLENUGIE

16 years old

40 %
CONNOISSEURS CHOICE
Distilled 1966
Bottled 1982
Proprietors: Long John Distillers Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

GLENUGIE

25 years old

40 %
CONNOISSEURS CHOICE
Distilled 1966
Bottled 1991
Trade Mark of Proprietors: Long John Distillers Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

GLENUGIE

28 years old

40 %
CONNOISSEURS CHOICE
Distilled 1967
Bottled 1995
Trade Mark of Proprietors:
Long John Distillers Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

GLENUGIE

30 years old

40 %
CONNOISSEURS CHOICE
Distilled 1967
Bottled 1997
Proprietors: Long John Distillers Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

GLENUGIE

20 years old

46 %

Distilled December 1966
Bottled April 1987
Wm. Cadenhead, 18 Golden Square,
Aberdeen

GLENUGIE

27 years old

54,2%

CHIEFTAIN'S CHOICE
Natural Strenght, Cask Strenght
Distilled December 1973
Cask No. 6543/6547
Bottled December 2000
Bourbon Barrel
317 bottles
Ian MacLeod & Co, Ltd, Broxburn

'In the Western Islands many of the customs of the ancient Caledons and Britons are still preserved and amongst others, The old manner of drinking. In former times large companies of Clan Chieftains assembled forming a circle known as a 'Streah'. The cup bearer handed arouns uisgebeatha in goblets or shells in a joyful ceremony known today as a Ceilidh. Another Celtic tradition of draining one's vessel at one draught was upheld by every new Clan Chief on his coming of age'.

GLENUGIE

22 years old

58,0%
RAREST OF THE RARE
A Historic Collection of Cask Strenght
Single Cask Whiskies from Distilleries
which no linger exist
Unique Whiskies of Distinction
Fons et Origo
Distilled : 1981
Bottled : 2004
Cask no. 5156
548 Numbered Bottles
No Chill Filtering or Colouring
of any kind

GLENUGIE

26 years old

46 %

MISSION
Selection Number Three
Unique Bottling of Glenugie
Distilled 1977
Bottled 2003
Genummerde flessen
498 Bottles
Murray McDavid, Glasgow

Chosen and bottled four your appreciation by Gordon, Mark, Simon, Jim and Andrew of Murray McDavid, Glasgow.

Jim McEwan, Master Distiller.

Our repuation has been based on the quality of the casks we have chosen and bottled since 1985, and these are no exception.

The 'Mission' range is a collection of some of the older and rarer casks in our cellars chosen for their outstanding quality and uniqueness.

As with all 'Murray McDavid' bottlings, this single malt is bottled at 46 % vol without being coloured with caramel or subjected to chill-filtration.

GLENUGIE

25 years old

47 %

SINGLE CASK
SCOTCH MALT WHISKY
Date Distilled May 80
Date Bottled Oct 05
Society Cask code 99.10
Outturn 263 Bottles
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh '
"Complex and intriguing'

We, the Tasting Panel, verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle has been

passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world and approved for re-

lease 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”

This was the most eastern distillery in Scotland, lying close to Peterhead, but unfortunately it closed in 1983.

This is pale amber from a refill hogshead and the primary nose hit is blueberry muffin dough. Over-ripe melon, sappy twigs, dessert wine and Atholl Brose also contribute making it complex and intriguing.

The taste, at full strenght, has sharp fruit (mandarins) and luxurious, lasting warmth. With the benefit of water the nose has tangerines, liquorice, moist rolling tobacco and pecan nuts, while the taste is a mellow balance of sweetness and citrus peel with some paper, unusual and very rare.

GLENUGIE

23 years old

61.9 %

RAREST OF THE RARE
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
CASK STRENGHT
Unique Whiskies of Distinction
A Historic Collection of
Cask Strenght Single Cask Whiskies
from Distilleries which no longer exist
Distilled:   11.1981
Bottled: 06.2005
Matured in : SHERRY CASK
Cask no.   5155
516 Numbered Bottles
Fons et Origo
D.T.C.
No Chill Filtration or
Colourings of any kind
Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd,
Huntly, Aberdeenshire

Glenugie distillery original was established in the 1830's and whilst in production was Scotland's most easterly distillery. The distillery closed permanently in 1983 with the distilling equipment being removed. The distillery was demolished and a warehouse has now been built on the site.

GLENUGIE

1 9 7 7
Aged 33 years

57.2 %
SIGNATORY VINTAGE
CASK STRENGHT COLLECTION
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled on: 20/12/1977
Matured in Hogsheads / Sherry Butt
Oloroso Cask Finish 100 Months
Bottled on: 14/01/2011
Cask No: 2
573 Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Casks individually selected and bottled by
Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Pitlochry

The Eastern Highlands
GLENUGIE

Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. Licentiehouder: Long John Distillers Limited. Eigendom van Whitbread.
In 1983 gesloten en in 1985 ontmanteld.
Glenugie was de noordelijkst gelegen distilleerderij van de Oostelijke Hooglanden en de meest oostelijk gelegen distilleerderij in Schotland.
Gesticht in 1833 - 1834 door Donald McLeod & Co met de naam Invernettie. Op de plaats stond een windmolen, waarvan de resten er nog staan.
In 1837 werd Glenugie omgebouwd tot bierbrouwerij.
In 1875 werd Glenugie het eigendom van Scottish Highland Distillers Co, Ltd, die de brouwerij weer ombouwden tot een distilleerderij.
Glenugie produceerde toen ongeveer 400.000 liter spirit per jaar.
In 1879 stopte de zieltogende Scottish Highland Distillers Co, Ltd er mee.
De volgende eigenaar was George Whyte & Co, maar die ging bankroet.
In 1884 kocht Simon Forbes de distilleerderij, en hij was wel succesvol en bleef eigenaar tot 1915 en wellicht langer.
Glenugie was gesloten in de eerste wereldoorlog, was weer in produktie van 1923 - 1924 en was weer gesloten van 1925 tot 1937.
Seager 1956 overgenomen door Schenley Industries te New York.
Schenley investeerde enorm in Glenugie, de distilleerderij werd kompleet nieuw gebouwd en de produktie werd verdubbeld, ook werden de lagerpakhuizen vergroot, waar men 1,5 miljoen gallon whisky kon lageren.
Schenley Industries bouwde ook een malt distillery, Kinclaith, bij de graandistilleerderij Strathclyde te Glasgow en in 1958 The Tormore.
In 1962 werd Laphroaig overgenomen.
Glen Alden Corporation, eigenaar van Schenley Industries werd in 1969 overgenomen door Rapid American Incorporated.
De naam Seager Evans werd in 1971 veranderd in Long John International Ltd, en die werd in 1975 overgenomen door de bierbrouwers Whitbread.
Kinclaith werd toen gesloten om uitbreiding van de graandistilleerderij Strathclyde mogelijk te maken.
Ben Nevis werd gekocht in 1981.
Glenugie ging dicht in 1983 en werd in 1985 ontmanteld.
Ben Nevis werd verkocht in 1988 aan The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co, Ltd uit Japan en The Tormore en Laphroaig werden in 1990 verkocht aan Allied Distillers Ltd.
Het water voor Glenugie kwam van de Wellington Spring. Glenugie had één Wash still en één Spirit still.

1963 1971 1975 1983 The distillery is founded by Donald, McLeod & Co, as Invernettie Distillery
The name changes to Glenugie Distillery and is converted into a brewery
The brewery is bought by Scottish Highland Distillers Company Ltd, which
recreates the distillery
The distillery closes
Glenugie is bought by George Whyte & Co, which becomes bankrupt the same year
Production ceases
The distillery begins production once more
Production stops
Seager Evans & Company Ltd takes over and resumes production
Seager Evans & Comapny Ltd, is bought by Schenley Industries Inc.
The number of stills doubles to four
Own floor maltings discontinues
Seager Evans & Company Ltd changes name to Long John International Ltd
Schenley sells Long John International Ltd to Whitbread & Company
The distillery closes and the buildings are sold

1831 - 1834

Donald McLeod & Co
1837

Glenugie Distillery Co

Converted to a brewery
Rebuilt as a distillery by

Scottish Highland Distillers Co
1873

Incorporated
1877

Company practically moribund
1879

Distillery wound up
George Whyte & Co buys the distillery
1882

George Whyte & Co sequestrated
1884 - 1915

Simon Forbes operates Glenugie
1918

John Craig owner
1923 -1924

Glenugie Distillery Ltd
1925 -1937

Distillery is silent
1937

Seager Evans & Co Ltd buys

Glenugie
1956

Seager Evans & Co Ltd is

taken over by Schenley Industries Inc
Glenugie is transferred to Strathclyde

& Long John Distilleries
later Long John Distillers Ltd

The number of stills doubles to four
1971

Seager Evans & Co Ltd changes

name to Long John International
Ltd.
1975

Schenley Industries Inc sells Glenugie

to Whitbread & Co
1983

Glenugie closes.

After Glenugie closed its doors for the last time, part of the equipment was sold. The spirit safe and the mash tun ended up at Fettercairn, while some of the stainless steel tanks found their way to Ben Nevis.

Despite a reputation as one of the best distilleries in the north of Scotland, particularly among excise officers, Glenugie experienced a tumultuous history chequered by a revolving door of operators and periods of closure.

Under the operation of Simon Forbes in the late 1800s – the first licensee to bring considerable success to Glenugie – the distillery featured two pot stills fitted with shell and tube condensers (a horizontal one for the wash still and an upright one for the spirit still) to supplement the existing worm tubs. It had an output of around 90,000 gallons per year.

The majority of Glenugie’s whisky was used for blending, in particular for the Long John blend from the 1950s which was also owned by Seager Evans. Only two own bottlings have been released in recent years, both for current brand owner Chivas Brothers’ Deoch an Doras range in 2010 and 2011 as a 32- and 30-year-old. Several independent bottlings have also been produced.

Once Scotland’s most easterly whisky distillery, Glenugie was also one of four lost distilleries in the Peterhead area (Glenaden, Kirktown, Longside), which was renowned for its fishing industry and two harbours designed by famous architects Thomas Telford and John Smeaton.

The coastal distillery, which was originally called Invernettie, was erected near the Peterhead shoreline by Donald McLeod & Co in 1831, but was continuously set back during its 150-year lifetime by a string of failed owners.

Donald McLeod managed Invernettie for just three years before it was mothballed. The Glenugie Distillery Co., which acquired the site in 1837, converted it into a brewery. It remained that way until 1875, when taken over by Scottish Highland Distillery Co. Ltd, which reinstalled distilling equipment and renamed it Glenugie distillery.

Things were looking up but sadly Glenugie’s new owner failed to make a go of the business and was wound up, with the distillery sold to George Whyte & Co in 1879. Its bad luck continued, and two years after purchasing Glenugie, George Whyte & Co was sequestrated.

It wasn’t until around 1884, when Simon Forbes took over the license, that Glenugie’s fortunes began to look bright. Forbes invested in such ‘considerable improvements and additions’ that excise officers would describe the distillery as one of the best in the north of Scotland.

Forbes operated the distillery until at least 1915, seeing Glenugie through the fallout from the Pattison crash at the start of the century. It was eventually sold onto Glenugie Distillery Ltd in 1923, before a takeover by London distiller Seager Evans & Co. in 1937.

The group was acquired by New York’s Schenley Industries in 1956, with Seager’s Scottish distilleries transferred to its subsidiaries Strathclyde and Long John Distilleries.

In 1970 Seager Evans was renamed Long John International and the business was purchased by British brewer Whitbread five years later.

Glenugie remained operational throughout, though fell victim to the fallout of the whisky loch of the 1980s, closing for good in 1983. Its buildings were split up and sold to two north sea oil firms.

The Glenugie brand name is now owned by Chivas Brothers.

1831

Donald McLeod & Co build a

distillery at Peterhead peninsular

1837

The distillery, which had become

mothballed, is converted to a brewery

by new owner Glenugie Distillery Co.

1875

The site is purchased by

Scottish Highland Distillers which

transforms it back into a distillery

1879

Scottish Highland Distillers is dissolved,

and Glenugie is sold to George Whyte & Co.

1881

George Whyte & Co is sequestrated

c.1884

Glenugie is sold to Simon Forbes, who

invests in bringing the distillery on form

1924

The operation is sold to Glenugie Distillery Ltd,

but falls silent two years later.

1937

Seager Evans & Co acquires Glenugie and

reopens the distillery

1956

Seager Evans is acquired by

Schenley Industries, and Glenugie is

transferred to Long John Distilleries

1970

Seager Evans becomes

Long John International

1975

Long John International is picked up by

British brewer Whitbread

1983

Glenugie distillery is closed for the last time

Pernod Ricard

2005 - present

Chivas Brothers

Allied Domecq

1994 - 2005

Allied Lyons

1978 - 1994

Whitbread & Co

1975 - 1978

Schenley Industries

1956 - 1975

Hugh Fraser

1956

Seager Evans

1937 - 1956

Glenugie Distillery Limited

1923 - 1937

John Craig

1918 - 1923

Simon Forbes

1884 - 1918

George Whyte & Co

1879 - 1884

Scottish Highland Distillers Co

1875 - 1879

Glenugie Distillery Co

1837 - 1873

Donald, McLeod & Co

1831 - 1837

Once Scotland’s most easterly distillery, Glenugie’s whisky was mostly destined for blends during its lifetime, but has grown in stature since. With the last of Glenugie’s warehouses about to be demolished, lPeterhead plant’s history, in particular on its last 12 months of operation.

The year 1983 is one of the most notorious in whisky history. It was the height of the recession in the industry, when about a dozen malt distilleries were closed. The most famous are Brora and Port Ellen, but many others also fell silent.

One of these was Glenugie, located in Peterhead, a little north of Aberdeen. Scotland’s most easterly whisky distillery, it was owned by Long John International at the time and, according to the Aberdeen Press and Journal, it had the dubious honour of being the first distillery to be shut down on the Scottish mainland during the crisis of the 1980s.

Glenugie was highly regarded throughout its history: in the late 19th century, Excise officers were particularly impressed by its mash and still house, which was very commodious and well-ventilated, making it, in their eyes, one of the best distilleries in the north of Scotland.

Even today, the whisky made at Glenugie is widely admired by whisky enthusiasts. Glenugie collector Bob Hulsebosch describes the spirit as ‘exotically fruity and characterful’, and finds that Glenugie combines the best of old Springbank, Brora, Lochside and Clynelish.

Long-time Long John International employee Sid Watt, now retired and living in Glasgow, is similarly fond of Glenugie, although he stays away from the superlatives. ‘It was regarded as a light-flavoured Highland malt,’ he says. ‘It’s a nice wee drink, if you can get it.’

Watt was sent up to Glenugie in 1983, to oversee the removal of all the whisky maturing on-site. Together with four men from the warehouse crew, the job was supposed to last six months, but it took them nearly 10 months to clear the place.

Watt started his career in the whisky trade in 1966, working in a spirit store. At Long John he spent time in the sample room, working in the blending hall as well. But the year he was tasked with managing the final stages of Glenugie stayed with him the longest. ‘I was the one that shut the place down,’ he says.

Filling two lorries a day with about 100 casks each, it was a long and laborious job. At the start, only one antiquated stacker was available to the crew. Money was tight, as the whisky industry was haemorrhaging cash, but Long John found the funds to rent a forklift truck. ‘That stacker was slow! If it wasn’t for that forklift, we might’ve still been there,’ Watt says.

It wasn’t until long after its closure that Glenugie made a modest name for itself as a single malt whisky. When the distillery was still in operation, most of the liquid was used in the Long John blend, while only the occasional cask was sold to private individuals.

Watt and his crew encountered one such cask when emptying the warehouse. ‘That’s one I’ll never forget. It was maybe 60 years old. We couldn’t find out who the owner was. This person hadn’t paid rent on it for a while too, you know, to store the cask. So the company took it back into their stock.

‘You’d have thought there would’ve been almost nothing left in it because of evaporation, but there was still some in it. That whisky would be very valuable, but I’ve no idea what they did with it. Probably sold it to a broker to cover the rent or something.’

Located close to the coast, Glenugie had some sinister neighbours. The Peterhead Prison opened in 1888 a few hundred yards from the distillery. More than once a prisoner escaped, most notably Johnny Ramensky, also known as Gentleman Johnny. A career criminal, he used his safe-cracking skills as a Commando during the Second World War.

During the third of a total of four escape attempts in 1958, distillery workers from Glenugie spotted Ramensky as he tried to make his way out of Peterhead. Alexander Allan told the Aberdeen Evening Express: ‘A colleague and I ran after him. He hid behind some bushes (…), and, when we came up, he belted along past the warehouse and over the wall.’

Because of occurrences like this, assistant distillery manager William Bain, one of Sid Watt’s best friends, kept a pickaxe handle near his front door. One day in 1983, when Watt came into work, a long line of cars was outside Peterhead Prison. ‘Being very naive, I thought: “Well, maybe this is the day they let out the prisoners that are due to be let out,”’ he recalls.

It turned out that some inmates had escaped onto the roof of the prison. The solution for this problem was found at Glenugie distillery. ‘We had a fire engine with a portable pump,’ says Watt. ‘They used water from our fire dam, which we had for safety purposes.

‘As this was in December, the water was freezing and murky, not something you want to be hosed down from a roof with. But that’s what they did.’

In between the hard work and prison escapes, Watt and his crew had some good times, especially when a Customs and Excise officer asked if he could store a sports car in one of the empty Glenugie warehouses.

‘They confiscated it from someone who hadn’t paid the import tax. I don’t remember the brand, but it was blue. Sometimes we took it out in the yard. It was quite nice to have a wee drive around in this high-powered car.’

When the final day of work came around, it was just like any other day, according to Watt. The lorry came in early and they had the last cask away at about 10am. He praises the men he worked with, who knew they were about to lose their jobs.

‘They had a lovely attitude towards it. They all knew what was going on and were working towards it. It didn’t affect the way they worked – I would love to have worked with them even longer.’

The distillery buildings have been in use over the years but, due to site redevelopment, most of the existing buildings fell into disrepair and were demolished.

Had Glenugie been located elsewhere, it might have been preserved, with the possibility of reopening in the future. But its proximity to Aberdeen and the North Sea oil industry meant that the industrial premises were in high demand.

There are still remnants of an old granite windmill, which is a listed building, on the site. However, the windmill predates the distillery, and there is no evidence that it was ever used for production purposes.

The distillery once had a total of nine bonded warehouses, holding up to 1.5m gallons of whisky. The site grew to cover 25 acres in its 150-year history.

Few if any casks of Glenugie still exist. The last releases date from at least six years ago, with current brand owner Chivas Brothers releasing two cask strength editions in its Deoch an Doras range in 2010 and 2011.

With the last casks on their way out of Peterhead, the remaining distillery workers and Watt had a small party. ‘There was quite a lot of stock – bottles of whisky and all that – left in the store room. We handed some out to local pensioners. Three bottles we handed in to the local lifeboat station, so they could raffle them. The men took some home as well.’

The distillery buildings have been in use over the years, but due to site redevelopment by current owner Score Group, most of the existing buildings fell into disrepair and were demolished. One set of warehouses remains today, but is scheduled to be knocked down soon, to make room for extra storage.

Watt is sad to hear the news, as he has many fond memories of Glenugie and Peterhead. Over the years he stayed in touch with several of his former colleagues. ‘It was a great atmosphere up there,’ he says. ‘I returned several times, and went up maybe once a year.

‘I always drove past the distillery, and was sad to see the way it went. If I could’ve possibly done it, I would’ve moved there. Had the distillery stayed on, I would’ve applied for a job at Glenugie.’

LAST GLENUGIE BUILDINGS SET FOR DEMOLITION

March 2018

The last remaining buildings at the former Glenugie distillery are set to be demolished over the next few months, marking the final chapter in the story of the Peterhead plant.

Going, going, gone: The last buildings at Glenugie will soon be demolished by the site’s owner

The set of warehouses is all that remains of the lost Highland distillery, which closed for good in 1983.

The most easterly distillery in all Scotland when it was still in production, Glenugie was among the many distilleries mothballed during the ‘whisky loch’ of the early 1980s.

Shortly after its closure, owner Whitbread sold the distillery to two North Sea oil firms. The site is currently owned by engineering company Score Group, one of the largest employers in the area.

The distillery buildings have been in use over the years but, due to site redevelopment, most of the existing buildings fell into disrepair and were demolished.

Score Group recently decided to knock down the last remaining warehouses, to make room for extra storage. When that happens, none of the original Glenugie distillery buildings will be left.

The distillery once had a total of nine bonded warehouses, holding up to 1.5m gallons of whisky. The site grew to cover 25 acres in its 150-year history.

A Chivas spokesperson said there were currently no plans for future releases, but could not confirm if the company still held any stocks of Glenugie.

THE COLLECTORS

BOB HULSEBOSCH, GLENUGIE

2017

Closed distilleries are often a cause of intrigue among whisky enthusiasts, and for close to two decades Bob Hulsebosch has been particularly captivated by Glenugie in the Highlands – once Scotland’s most easterly distillery. Angus MacRaild gets a first-hand look at some of his most prized possessions.

Who are you and what do you do?

‘My name is Bob Hulsebosch, born in 1969, from the Netherlands. I am married and have two lovely daughters. I work for a company that advises organisations on how to secure their IT systems. When I am not busy with whisky, I like to play bass guitar and work in the rose garden.’

How did you get interested in whisky in the first place?

‘My interest in whisky started about 20 years ago when my brother got a bottle of whisky. After the bottle had stood for about a year in our cellar, we decided to open it on a Saturday evening. That was quite an exciting moment, my first whisky, and it wasn’t too bad. I started buying and drinking “regular” blended whisky (Glen Talloch) and single malts (Glenfiddich 12).’

What whisky do you collect and why?

‘A few years later I bought a whisky magazine. In that magazine was an article about Dutch Whisky Connection. Dutch Whisky Connection consists of two whisky experts and collectors, Bert Vuik and Michiel Wigman, who love to share their passion of drinking – especially older or very rare single malts. Their main purpose is (besides collecting these bottles) to open them.

‘The article included tasting notes for several old whiskies and one of them was of the Glenugie Sestante. The tasting note mentioned all kinds of tropical fruit flavours that I had never imagined could exist in whisky. This triggered me to go the Whisky Festival in Groningen and visit the stand of Dutch Whisky Connection to try the Glenugie Sestante.

‘Vuik poured me a sample in my glass and I was completely lost by the heavenly smell and taste of it. A few weeks later, I ordered samples of all Vuik’s Glenugies. Somehow the Glenugie distillery fascinated me and I started to collect its whisky. The fact that it was a closed distillery made it special as well and I wanted to find out about its history and to keep it alive in our memories.’

‘At the moment I have about 80 bottles of Glenugie in my collection. You can find them on my website: www.glenugie.nl. The website also includes the history and several pictures of the distillery that has more or less completely been destroyed since its closure in 1983.

‘I also try to collect specific whiskies of other closed distilleries like Coleburn, Convalmore, Port Ellen, St Magdalene and Karuizawa. Often, I use these whiskies to swap with Glenugies.’

Dream drams: Hulsebosch’s collection includes the Glenugie Samaroli 1966

Glenugie is generally highly regarded among collectors and enthusiasts. What do think it is about Glenugie that people love?

‘The Glenugie whisky has a profile that can generally be described as exotically fruity and characterful. The character often comes from the smoky, peaty, farm-like or waxy edges you can find in many old bottlings. In a way, it combines the best of old Springbank, Brora, Lochside and Clynelish.’

Had Glenugie remained open, do you think we would still hold it in the same high regard?

‘Indeed. Another aspect of Glenugie’s stature is the fact that it is a closed distillery. Nowadays, Glenugies are hard to find. A lot of collectors and investors are looking for bottles. Had Glenugie remained open it would certainly be a less “special” distillery, probably comparable with another famous and still open distillery from the neighbourhood, Glen Garioch.’

Prices for almost all old Glenugies have risen sharply. Does this change the way you view your collection? Do you see it as an investment?

‘When I started collecting Glenugies the prices were already relatively high. My ambition was, and still is, to collect all bottlings ever released and to drink every now and then a small glass of its spirit. Currently, however, the prices are too high to probably fulfil this ambition or to open a bottle for drinking. Slowly, the collection is turning into an investment. The problem with investing is that at some point in time you have to sell your collection, i.e. to make profit. For me, this moment has not arrived yet. I still love to collect Glenugie and find it hard to get rid of bottles.’

Do you think Chivas Brothers could have done more with the name Glenugie and the remnant stocks, much like Diageo has done with Brora and Port Ellen?

‘Chivas released two Deoch an Doras bottlings in 2010 and 2011 which can be considered original bottlings. There are only a few other OBs. Interestingly, almost all bottlings are from independent bottlers. This is probably why Chivas couldn’t have done more with the name and stocks: they just did not have any stocks of Glenugie. Note that since 2012-13, no new bottlings have appeared on the market.’

A lot is said these days about the character of Scotch whisky and how it has changed over the years. What is your take on it?

‘The current character of Scotch whisky can best be described as “computerised”. The profile of most distilleries seems to converge into whiskies that are on average clean and sweet, or peaty. Character is often missing, but sometimes something special happens and very nice whisky is bottled. The trick is to find those bottles.’

Some of the best: Hulsebosch tips the 12-year-old Cadenhead bottling as one of the best Glenugies ever made

What distilleries do you think are producing the best whiskies these days from a drinker’s perspective?

‘Examples of recent young gems are a nine-year-old Miltonduff from the Whisky Chamber, the eight-year-old Glentauchers bottled by the Creative Whisky Company, or Springbank’s own 16-year-old Local Barley. I think Springbank together with GlenDronach (single casks), Bowmore (the fruitiness is slowly coming back) and Clynelish (plenty of good 1997s available) produce the best whisky at the moment. These distilleries seem to be able to improve the quality of their whisky or to reinvent themselves. Lagavulin is always good, but not very exceptional for me. Kilkerran is the new kid on the block with good value for money.’

What do you think are the best Glenugies ever bottled?

‘My favorite bottling is the Glenugie Sestante 1967 (in 1989) at 59.5% abv. It is very fruity and powerful – absolutely stellar. In general, I like the red fruits and apples on the nose and mouth that so much characterise Glenugie. Another gem, but completely different, is the Glenugie 12-year-old Cadenhead Authentic Collection 59.8% abv, which really is a Sherry bomb. The Samaroli 1966 55% abv is complex and needs time, but it’s delicious. Most of the Cadenhead and SMWS (Scotch Malt Whisky Society) bottlings are very good. I am less enthusiastic about the latest Signatory Glenugies that have been finished in Sherry casks for several months.’

What are the prize bottles in your collection?

‘The prize bottles in my collection are the Glenugie Samaroli 1966 at 55% abv; the Glenugie for Neish by Robert Watson; and the five-year-old original bottling. From a rarity point of view, I also like the 1981 Duncan Taylor private bottling for the Taiwanese market.’

What would be your ‘holy grail’ bottle to find?

‘One of my goals would be to have all three Glenugie Samaroli bottlings. I have two of them in my collection and I am still looking for the 1980 bottle. Getting that one would really be the holy grail.’

What has been the greatest whisky experience of your life so far?

‘Several years ago I co-organised a Glenugie tasting. We opened and tasted six Glenugies in a row. It was a fantastic and memorable evening. Another great experience was the Usquebaugh Society’s Laphroaig masterclass at WFNN (Whisky Festival Noord-Nederland) in Groningen, given by Marcel van Gils and Hans Dillesse. Here we compared, among others, four 10-year-old distillery bottlings from the 1960s to the ’90s. It was amazing to taste how much the "Laffie" has changed over the decades.’

Seager Evans

Prolific English gin and Scotch whisky distiller and blender that became Long John International.

What started out as a 19th century gin distiller and rectification business in London became a thriving Scotch whisky distilling and blending empire. Seager Evans & Co had its headquarters in Deptford, but under US ownership expanded its business north into Scotland. It acquired the Long John blended Scotch whisky and, following its popularity in global markets, eventually renamed its subsidiaries and own business after the brand.

During its lifetime Seager Evans & Co owned the Strathclyde grain distillery in Glasgow, Glenugie in Peterhead and Laphroaig on Islay, and built Tormore in Moray. It also owned a sizeable warehousing, blending and bottling facility in Glasgow, as well as the Plymouth Gin distillery on England’s south coast.

It was renamed Long John International Ltd in 1988 and now operates as a dormant subsidiary of Chivas Brothers Ltd.

Despite being one of the more successful Scotch whisky distillers and blenders, Seager Evans & Co was established as a gin distiller and rectifier in London in 1805. Its main operation was based at Millbank distillery in Westminster for the purpose of distilling, blending and rectifying gin (the business was moved in 1921 to Holland & Co’s Deptford site on the expiration of Millbank’s lease).

In 1903, with many Scottish distilleries being sold off for a bargain price following a crash in the market, Seager Evans picked up the Lowland Glentarras distillery. But it was too soon for the group to be entering the Scotch distilling industry and with the market in disarray, particularly for the Lowland distilleries, it was sold on in 1910 (and eventually closed five years later).

It wasn’t until 1927 that Seager Evans made another pass at distilling in Scotland, this time with the construction of its own distillery in Glasgow. Strathclyde was opened on the site of a disused cotton mill in Waddell Street as an alternative source of grain spirit to DCL (which was dominating the market), rather than in response to demand for more capacity. Strathclyde operated under the Scottish Grain Distilling Company subsidiary, though the name was changed to Strathclyde and Long John Distilleries Ltd in 1957 following the opening of the Kinclaith malt plant inside Strathclyde and the acquisition of the Long John blend through Seager’s buyout of W.H. Chaplin & Co in 1936.

Glenugie malt distillery, which had been silent for 15 years, was added to the portfolio in 1937, but it was after WWII that Seager began a real spending spree. It bought Westthorn Farm in Glasgow, a 100-acre site on which it built a huge storage, cooperage and blending facility. Today the London Road site is the headquarters of John Dewar & Sons.

Seager Evans was acquired by New York’s Schenley Industries in 1956, which allowed it to purchase Coates & Co (Plymouth) Ltd, the producer of Plymouth Gin, in 1958. In the same year it snapped up Tormore in Moray and went on to acquire Gordon Graham of Aberdeen and its Black Bottle blend.

The investment didn’t stop. In 1962 Seager Evans began its 10-year purchase of Laphroaig distillery from Bessie Williamson, and went on to purchase Stanley Holt & Son, which held one of the largest stocks of maturing whisky in England.

In 1972 Schenley Industries was acquired by Rapid American Inc and three years later Seager Evans was sold off to British brewer Whitbread. Its new owner invested heavily in a modernising Seager’s distilleries, and even reunited the Long John brand with the purchase of its home, Ben Nevis distillery, in 1981.

In 1988 Seager Evans & Co. Ltd was renamed Long John International Ltd. The following year, Whitbread’s wine and spirits divisions were sold to Allied Lyons. Long John International is now a dormant subsidiary of Chivas Brothers.

Schenley Industries

US-based liquor giant that held significant Scotch interests during the 20th century.

Schenley industries was one of the largest liquor groups operating out of the US during the 20th century, with significant interests in Bourbon, American and Canadian whisky, gin and vodka.

In Scotch terms, Schenley was responsible for the construction of Kinclaith and Tormore malt distilleries, and – through its English subsidiary Seager Evans & Co – also once owned Laphroaig distillery and Long John blended Scotch. As well as owning several distilleries and blending companies through Seager Evans, it also distributed many of the Scotch and gin brands belonging to the DCL in the US, including Dewar’s and Gordons.

Schenley’s New York headquarters once occupied five floors of the Empire State building, which with over 800 employees made it the largest employer in residence.

Schenley Industries was founded in the 1920s, when Lewis Rosential purchased a group of distilleries, including one in Schenley, Pennsylvania that had a license to produce whisky for medicinal purposes during Prohibition – one of only six in the country to do so. Acting on the advice of Sir Winston Churchill, whom he met during a visit to the French Riviera in 1922, Rosential purchased large whisky inventories in preparation for the end of Prohibition.

When Repeal came in 1933, Rosential incorporated Schenley Distillers Company, which grew rapidly to become one of the largest liquor businesses in the US. It obtained the rights to distribute DCL’s Dewar’s in the US, with the blended Scotch allegedly contributing half of Schenley’s profits.

The business was renamed Schenley Industries in 1949 and became a public company shortly afterward.

With Scotch whisky so vibrant in the US during the 50s – it took on the bulk of exports after the war – American ownership of Scotch interests abounded. Publicker Industries established Inver House Distillers; Hiram Walker made acquisitions of Scapa, Glencadam and Pulteney distilleries; while Seagram, which bought Chivas Brothers following the war, picked up Strathisla and Glen Keith.

In 1956 Schenley purchased London’s Seager Evans & Co., at that time owner of the Strathclyde grain distillery in Glasgow, Glenugie malt distillery in Peterhead, and the Long John blended Scotch whisky brand.

Under Schenley, Seager Evans opened the Kinclaith malt distillery within Strathclyde, Laphroaig on Islay and Plymouth Gin distillery. It built Tormore in Moray, and acquired blender Gordon & Graham of Aberdeen (owner of Black Bottle) and Stanley Holt & Son, which had one of the largest stocks of maturing whisky in England.

Rosential sold his controlling interest in Schenley to the Glen Alden Corporation in 1968, and resigned from the company. Glen Alden was purchased by Rapid American in 1972 but, owing to US monopolies legislation, was required to divest some of its liquor interests.

In 1975 Seager Evans & Co – which controlled all of Schenley’s Scotch assets – was sold to British brewer Whitbread and later renamed Long John International.

Meanwhile, Rapid American’s CEO, Meshulam ‘Rik’ Riklis was caught up over allegations of share price fixing during Guinness’ infamous takeover of Distillers Company Ltd in 1986. The following year Guinness also acquired Schenley industries from Riklis

GLENUGIE ( 1831 as Invernetty / 1831 Glenugie Distillery and converted into a brewery / 1875 Glenugie is again a distillery /closed in 1879)

( 1882 bought by a George Whyte & Co and is bankrupt in the same year) ( 1923 production starts and stops in 1925) (1937 – opened by Seager Evans -1983)

The last remaining buildings at the former Glenugie distillery are set to be demolished over the next few months, marking the final chapter in the story of the Peterhead plant.

Glenugie distillery