Inchgower

SCOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKIES > I

INCHGOWER

12 years old

40%

A DE LUXE HIGHLAND MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
FROM THE HOUSE OF BELL'S
Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd, Perth
(Very old Bottling)

INCHGOWER

14 years old

43%
FLORA & FAUNA
Distilled 1980
Bottled 1994
Inchgower Distillery,
Buckie, Banffshire

The Oyster Catcher is a common sight around Inchgower distillery, which stands close to the sea on the mouth of the River Spey near Buckie. Inchgower established in 1824, produces one of the most distinctive single malt whiskies in Speyside. It is a malt for the discerning drinker - a complex aroma precedes a fruity, spicy taste - with a hint of salt.

INCHGOWER

27 years old

61,6%

Date Distilled Nov 66
Date Bottled May 94
Society Cask No. code 18.5
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh.

Amberkleurig. In de neus droogheid, ziltheid en specerijen. Medium body. In de smaak eerst zoetheid. specerijen, ziltheid, dan droog. Toffee. Heel komplex. Lange, heftige afdronk

INCHGOWER

LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY

15 years old

43 %
VINTAGE 1979
Distilled 21.11.79
Bottled 2.95
Cask no. 12465
320 numbered bottles
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh.

INCHGOWER

12 years old

60,4 %

SINGLE CASK
SCOTCH MALT WHISKY
LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
Date Distilled Jun 86
Date Bottled Feb 99
Society Cask No. code 18.13
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
'A cure for the common cold'

This distillery, built in 1871, is situated outside Buckie and was once owned by Bell's -for which blend it still supplies fillings.

This example is the colour of white wine and noses exactly like a hot toddy with a spoonful of blossom honey in it, a squeeze of lemon and a sachet of Askit. When you add water, the light medicinal note implied ny the last grows more confident: elastoplast, bandages, this kind of thing: and this comes through in the flavour, which is tangy and sweet (lemon and honey) with light antiseptic notes. Warming and comforting, this is the perfect cold cure.

INCHGOWER

35 years old

67.9 %

SINGLE CASK
SCOTCH MALT WHISKY
Date distilled November 1966
Date bottled April 2002
Society Cask No. code 18.18
Outturn 74 bottles
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
'Almond Cakes and Black Forest Gateau'

This distillery which was owned by Bell's when this cask was distilled is situated near the fishing port of Buckie on the Moray Firth.

Maturation in a European oak butt has given this whisky a deep amber colour. The first nose is surprisingly fresh and prickly for its 36 years (the whisky is remarkably strong for its age: we learned recently that this means it has come from an 'esiotropic' ware¬house) .

The key notes are candied fruits and peel, crystalline sugar and a hint of baked apples. The latter are noticeable in the flavour at full strenght (baked with brown sugar), as is milk chocolate and later treacle - an overall sweet, strong, somewhat waxy texture.

Water increases the aroma - almonds, almond cakes and almond oil; choclate and high qua¬lity Black Forest gateau; a hint of bung cloth. The flavour at reduced strenght is smooth and sweet to start, then slightly bitter, with some wine in the after-taste (Madeira?), leaving an overall dry impression. A fruity, nutty dram.

INCHGOWER

22 years old

55,7 %

RARE MALTS SELECTION
Natural Cask Strength
Distilled 1974
Bottled September 1997
Genummerde flessen
Limited Edition Arthur Bell & Sons, Perth

Inchgower successor to romantic Tochieneal, the model distillery at Inchgower rose in 1871 near Buckie north of Speyside; its fine courtyard buildings seem unchanged.

To enjoy this rose-gold 22 year old cask-strength single malt at its best, measure one part whisky to two parts still water at room temperature.

Any slight cloudiness is normal in an unfiltered cask-strength malt. On tasting, enjoy the Eres of sea-air aromas and hints of cashew nut on the malty sweet palate, then linger over the appetising, salty finish of this fine bodied malt.

INCHGOWER

11 years old

61 %
AUTHENTIC COLLECTION
Cask Strength
Distilled 1989
Cask: Bourbon Hogshead
Bottled: July 2001
No. of Bottles: 312
Wm. Cadenhead,
Campbeltown, Argyll

INCHGOWER

22 years old

46%

Individual Cask
SHERRYWOOD
ORIGINAL COLLECTION
Distilled 1977
Region: Speyside
Bottled May 2000
No. of Bottles: 318
Distillery: Working
Wm. Cadenhead,
Campbeltown, Argyll

Wm. Cadenhead: An independent bottler, not connected with the distiller.

INCHGOWER

20 years old

43 %
SIGNATORY VINTAGE
VINTAGE 1980
Distilled on 12/11/1980
Bottled on 25/10/2001
Cask No. 13273
288 Genummerde flessen
Natural Colour
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

INCHGOWER

20 years old

51,'7 %

SINGLE CASK
SCOTCH MALT WHISKY
Date distilled Feb 85
Date bottled Apr 05
Society Cask code 18.22
Outturn 280 Bottles
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
'Blackcurrent cheesecake and lemon rinds'

Built in 1871 to replace Tochineal distillery, this distillery was once owned by Buckie town council. The original two stills were expanded to four in 1966 to cater for the increased demand for this Banffshire malt.

A polished, brassy colour reflecting ita age enticed all present at the Panel.

On the nose there is toffee, shortbread and raisins soon becoming blackcurrant cheesecake. Artificial notes of bubble gum and cheap plastic toys were also detected. The palate at full strenght is delightfully refreshed by a splash of water melon. The raisins prevail accompanied by a creamy toffee-fudge sweetness with charred lemon rinds to finish.

Water introduce lychees and kiwi-fruit to the blackcurrants, adding a layer of beeswax and a light cheesy note, like Wensleydale with cranberries. On the tongue there is cinder toffee, cedar, citrus pith with and a finale of creamy oakiness.

INCHGOWER

27 years old

55,6 %
RARE MALTS SELECTION
Distilled: 1976
Bottled: 2004
Natural Cask Strenght
Numbered Bottles
Limited Edition
Scottish Malt Distillers, Elgin

INCHGOWER

36 years old

46.3 %
PEERLESS
RARE AULD SCOTCH WHISKY
CASK STRENGHT
Speyside Scotch Whisky
Unique Whiskies of Distinction
Fons et Origo
DTC
date distilled 10.1968
date bottled 02.2005
cask no. 5575
142 Numbered Bottles
Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd,
Huntly, Aberdeenshire

INCHGOWER

aged 20 years

60,8 %
SINGLE CASK
SCOTCH WHISKY
Clubbotteling 2005
CASK STRENGHT
Distilled 26 June 1985
Bottled 16 August 2005
Cask nr.   5633
250 Numbered Bottles
Unchillfiltered
Usquebaugh Society
Nederlandse Scotch Malt Whisky Vereniging,
Leusden

INCHGOWER

22 years old

43 %
SIGNATORY VINTAGE
Single Highland Malt Whisky
VINTAGE   1980
Distilled on 12/11/1980
Bottled on 3/9/2003
Cask No.   13274
292 Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

INCHGOWER

24 years old

60,4 %
ADELPHI DISTILLERY
LIMITED
Distilled 1980
Bottled 2005
Adelphi Distillery Limited
Purveyors of Rare Malt Whiskies
aged in Wood and bottled direct from the Cask

INCHGOWER

Aged 15 years

46 %

THE N C 2 RANGE
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Speyside Region
Unique Whiskies of Distinction
Fons et Origo
D T C
Distilled 1992
Bottled 2007-12-17
No Chill filtering or Colourings
Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd, Huntly, Aberdeenshire

The casks are hand selected by Duncan Taylor & Co. Prior to filling. The whiskies are

matured at their original distilleries to allow them to age in the environment in which

they were distilled. Casks ar only bottled when they reach optimum age and quality

INCHGOWER

Aged 34 years

49.7 %
1 9 7 4
Speyside
THE EXCLUSIVE MALTS
Fine Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled 20th September 1974
Cask no. 7881
One of 187 Bottles
Natural colour
Non chillfiltering
The Creative Whisky Co, Ltd, Hamilton

INCHGOWER

Aged 24 years

45.5 %

SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
FROM A SINGLE CASK
Society Single Cask No: 18.30
Distilled February 1985
Cask type: Refill Hogshead / ex Bourbon
Outturn: 221 bottles
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
"Hippie Dram"

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 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 suggests a New World bookshop – incense, jewellery and a hint of must. Also sherry, ginger wine and Sauterne with honey, lemon and syrup. The palate has a luscious sweetness, with grapes in golden syrup, becoming elderflower and marijuana on reduction.

The nose suggested a boutique New World bookshop; incense and vintage ewellery with a hint of must. We indentified Montilla sherry, green ginger wine and Sauternes with honey

and grape must; Lyle’s tinned syrup and lemon curd. The unreduced palate was luscious

and syrupu; grapes and apple skins coated in golden syrup; lemon bonbons and Crabbie’s

green ginger wine, salted honeycomb. Water brought out more honey and ginger on the nose,

with base notes of elderflower and marijuana leaf. The reduced palate revealed a Thai curry

with lemongrass and ginger followed by a syrup sponge pudding for dessert. The distillery

has a Oyster Catcher as its symbol, a bird is an annual visitor to this distillery near the fishing

villages of Buckie and Cullen.

INCHGOWER

61.9 %
1 9 9 3
THE MANAGER'S CHOICE
SINGLE CASK SELECTION
NATURAL CASK STRENGHT
Distilled in 1993
Cask No. 7917
Bottled in 2009
Numbered Bottles
Inchgower Distillery, Buckie, Banffshire

Importer: Diageo Suisse S.A. Renens.

INCHGOWER

2 0 0 7

10 years

46 %

Speyside Single Malt Whisky

Distilled: 30/08/07

Matured in a Hoghshead

Cask no: 801156

Bottled: 29/01/18

374 Bottles

Bottle no: 84

Natural Colour

Non Chillfiltration

The Ultimate Whisky Co. NL

INCHGOWER

1 9 9 3

14 years old

43 %

CONNOISSEURS CHOICE

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Distilled at Inchgower Distillery

Distillation Date October 1993

Cask Type: Refill Sherry Hogsheads

Bottling Date April 2011

Proprietors Arthur Bell & Sons

Specially Selected, Produced and Bottled by

Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

Nose: Floral notes with a delicate sweetness

Palate: Mellow, with a hint of sweetness and some peppermint

Light Body

Finish: Short – yet warming

Highland Malt

INCHGOWER

Buckie, Banffshire. Licentiehouder: Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd. Inchgower is onderdeel van Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. (S.M.D.) De maltdivisie van United Distillers Ltd. Eigendom van Guinness.
Gesticht in 1822 of 1824 als Tochindeal distilleerderij door Alexander Wilson.
De distilleerderij werd gebouwd op land dat het eigendom was van de Countess of Seafield.
In 1871 werd Tochindeal verplaatst naar Rathven, twee kilometer ten oosten   van Buckie,
naar men zei omdat daar meer water beschikbaar zou zijn, een ander verhaal   luidt, dat
de Countess of Seafield, niet zo gecharmeerd was van de distilleerderij op   haar land,
en de pachtprijs tweemaal zo hoog maakte.
De naam werd toen veranderd in Inchgower.
Inchgower begon met twee ketels, en de distilleerderij werd ruim van opzet gebouwd in de vorm van een vierkant, vaak voorkomend in die tijd, er was een vatenmakerij, kopersmederij en een timmerbedrijf.
De mouterij was honderd veertig meter lang en verlicht met 45 ramen. De lagerpakhuizen waren zo groot dat ruimte aan andere distilleerderijen werd verhuurd.
Ook waren er huizen ten behoeve van de medewerkers.
De familie Wilson verkocht Inchgower in 1933 aan het stadsbestuur van Buckie, die de dis-tilleerderij gedurende drie jaar in bedrijf hielden en in 1936 Inchgower voor E 3000 ver-kochten aan Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd.
Voor de overige gebouwen werd nog eens E 1000 betaald.
Ondanks de recessie in die jaren, en de heel moeilijke tijd die de whiskyindustrie toen doormaakte vanwege de drooglegging in Amerika, nam Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd in 1933 ook Blair Athol en Dufftown over.
In 1966 werd Inchgower grondig verbouwd, er werden twee ketels bijgebouwd, de moutvloeren verdwenen, de lagerpakhuizen werden uitgebreid, zodat men 44000 vaten kan opslaan.
Er kwam een afdeling om veevoeder te produceren die gebruik maakt van heet water afkomstig van warmte wisselaars op de ketels.
In 1970 werden twee bottelfabrieken bij Edinburgh en een nieuw hoofdkantoor te Perth ge-bouwd .

In 1972 werd Raymond Miquel direkteur en opnieuw begon een periode van expansie; in 1974 werd Pittyvaich in gebruik genomen, gebouwd naast Dufftown, een flessenfabriek gekocht en in Amerika een grote drankenimporteur, Wellington Importers, overgenomen.
In 1983 werd Bladnoch van Inver House overgenomen. In 1984 werd de Gleneagles Hotel Groep gekocht.
Op 23 Augustus 1985 wordt Arthur Bell & Sons na een hard en verbitterd gevecht overgenomen door Guinness.
In 1988 wordt Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd samengevoegd met de in 1987, ook tegen hun zin overgenomen Distillers Company Limited. (D.C.L).
In 1972 werd Inchgower voor het eerst uitgebracht als single malt whisky.
De vier ketels van Inchgower worden verhit met stoom en kunnen 2^ miljoen spirit per jaar produceren
Twee Wash stills zijn elk groot 12.500 liter, de twee Spirit stills elk 7236 liter. De Mash tun is 8.2 ton. De zes Wash backs hebben elk een inhoud van 40.500 liter.

October 2005
Diageo has announced that its 2005 Annual Rare Malts Selection will be the last.
The collection will consist of four cask strenght single malts from closed distilleries; Glen Mhor 28 years old, Millburn 35 years old, Glendullan 26 years old and Linkwood 30 years old.
Dr. Nicholas Morgan, global malts marketing director commented: 'As the Special Releases are now well established, it makes less sence to continue selecting and promoting a parallel series of Rare Malts with his own separate indentity'.
In future, all premium and rare whiskies will be made available in the annual Special Releases series.

Thanks to Jack Smith, C,S.S. President

METRO ATLANTA SCOTCH CLUB
101 Glens Drive, Woodstock G A 30188.
"Good Scotch with Great Friends"
Pronunciation: INSJ - gauwer
Translation:Isle of Goats
Slogan: "Malt for the discerning drinker"
Region: Central Speyside
Neighbours: Glenglassaugh, MacDuff

Established: 1871
Water Source: Memdiff Spring in the

Menduff Hills for production

Burn of Buckie for cooling

From Diageo's Maltings at Burghead

Malt Spec: ? unpeated

Mash Tun: 1 stainless steel semi -

Lauter, 8,2 ton capacity

Washbacks: 6 Oregon pine, 40,500

litres each
Fermentation: 46 to 54 hours

Stills: 4

2 Spirit Stills each 7,236 litre 2 Wash Stills each 12.500 litres

Spirit Run: From 70 % to 55 %

Cask type: ex Bourbon mostly &

ex Sherry refill some

Warehouses: 9 on - site, 5 Dunnage, 4 Racked for about 60.000 casks

Comprised largely of whisky from other

Diageo distilleries

Most Inchgower is largely tinkered for

off site maturation

Capacity: (2012) 2.900.000.000 litres

a year

Owner: U.D.V. since 1999, Diageo

since 2004

Visitor centre: No

Tours: No

Diageo has named Teaninich near Alness as the location for its plans to build a new 50

million pound new malt whisky distillery and will be adjacent the existing Teaninich distillery
but will have its own name and indentity and will have the capacity to produce 13 million
litres of spirit p[er annum from its 16 stills.

Diageo also invest 12 million pound in expanding the Teaninich distillery to almost doubless capacity.
The site will also feature a bio - energy plant.
The work will begin in 2014.
Diageo also will invest in Mortlach distillery in building a new still house and an other invest-
ment will be at Glendullan distillery to process co products in an anaerobic digestion process,

producing bio - gas which will be used to power the Glendullan distillery.

There are also expansion and upgrade developments for more then 40 million pound in
Linkwood, Mannochmore, Glendullan, Dailuaine, Benrinnes, Inchgower, Cragganmore,
Glen Elgin, Glen Ord and in a new bio - energie plants in Glenlossie and Dailuaine.

Also new warehouse are build at Cluny near Kirkcaldy.
And at Talisker a new visitor centre is build for a 1 million pound.

Inchgower was built in 1871 by Alexander Wilson & Company to replace the Tochineal distillery.

The original equipment from Tochineal was even used in the establishment of the site.

Company:

Diageo

Still 1:

2 x 12,500 l

Pear

Still 2:

2 x 7,236 l

Pear

Fermenters:

6 x 40,500 l

Mashtun:

8 t

Founding year:

1872

Distillery output:

2,250,000

The Whisky

Official bottlings released from the Speyside distillery of Inchgower are few and far between, making them an extremely valuable addition to any collection. There are only three official bottlings for buyers to choose from, which consist of the 14 year old bottling that was released as part of the Flora & Fauna range, and the 'Rare Malts Collection' bottlings, which have included a 22 year old and a 27 year old.

In comparison, independent bottlings are quite plentiful. Bottlings have been performed by Hunter Laing, Gordon & MacPhail, as well as Douglas Laing. There is a strong variety of age and vintage among the independent bottlings, making the process of choosing a single bottle even more difficult.

One of the reasons for the scarce amount of official bottlings from Inchgower distillery is that the vast majority of the single malt produced at the site is used in blending. Only 1% of the spirit distilled at the site is actually sold as single malt. The Bell's family owned the distillery for a significant portion of time and as a result Inchgower became an important component in the Bell's blends, as well as Johnnie Walker and the White Horse Blends.

The Production

The water used in the production of Inchgower is drawn from a burn in the nearby Menduff Hills, which lay to the south of the town of Buckie, where the distillery is located. Because Inchgower draws its water from this source, the spirit is technically classed as a 'Lower Speyside Malt'. The distillery has a production capacity of almost 3 million litres.

The Pot Stills

Inchgower is powered by four pot stills: two wash, two spirit. All of the stills have a 'pear' shape, with extremely wide spherical lids and tall, conical necks. The flat top of the still results in a slightly higher degree of reflux, as the progress of the vapours is not as gradual and progressive than it is with the necks of the more common 'Spsyside'-style still. The wash stills have a capacity of 12'500 litres, while the spirit stills sit at a slightly smaller capacity of 7'200 litres.

The Maltings

Inchgower has a history of being a fairly self-sufficient distillery. The site even housed it's own cooperage, which was pretty unique. The distillery used to use it's own floor maltings, but nowadays it sources its malt from a Diageo-owned malting facility in Burghead, 20 miles to the west of Buckie. The malt that is used is unpeated.

The Warehouse

Despite the fact that it is a fairly small-scale distillery, Inchgower has a pretty impressive warehouse facility. It boasts 13 dunnage and racked on-site warehouses, which can house up to 60'000 casks. The distillery uses a combination of sherry and American oak casks, although sherry is used more often than American oak. Interestingly, the majority if the spirit housed in these warehouses isn't actually Inchgower single malt. The facilities serve as a storage space for many other distilleries, which is fairly unusual.

Inchgower was built in 1871 by Alexander Wilson & Company to replace the Tochineal distillery. The original equipment from Tochineal was even used in the establishment of the site. Production launched the same year and continued successfully until the business began to encounter difficulties, eventually having to liquidate in 1936, when Alexander Wilson & Company filed for bankruptcy. Inchgower Town Council bought the distillery from the Company, who then sold it on to Arthur Bell & Sons.

Arthur Bell & Sons made a series of modernizations to Inchgower, including increasing the number of stills from two to four, doubling the level of capacity and bringing it to it's modern ability. In 1985, Arthur Bell & Sons was taken over by Guinness, who were then merged with United Distillers and Vintners in 1987. Diageo, the whisky industry giant, eventually bought Guinness, therefore acquiring Inchgower. In 2006 Diageo closed Inchgower for a year in order to launch a major refurbishment. One of the most significant changes was the installation of a so-called 'closed yeast pitching system' that added yeast to the wash automatically. This innovation gives an added degree of control over the style of the whisky, but is less 'traditional'.

As the distillery has moved into the twenty-first century, it has continued to go from strength to strength. In 2004 it released a 27 year old bottling from 1976, which was received with great critical acclaim. Hopefully the rest of this century will continue to bring such great releases.

The spicy character is driven initially by a hotter than usual second water during the quick mashing regime which cuts back any overt nuttiness. Fermentation is short and the steeply angled lyne arms on the stills help to capture weightier elements. An underlying waxiness flashes a signal to another coastal plant, Clynelish.

Built in 1871 by Alexander Wilson, this is one of the few distilleries to have been owned by the local town council which stepped in to save the plant in 1936 when the Wilson family went bankrupt. Two years later, Arthur Bell bought it for the princely sum of £3,000. With the absorption of Bell’s into Guinness and the subsequent purchase by that firm of DCL, Inchgower became part of what is now Diageo.

It has always been a significant player in blends, in this case Bell’s, whose own distilleries all shared variations on the ‘nutty-spicy' theme. It also plays a role within the Walker range.

One of Diageo’s ‘Flora & Fauna’ range, it is occasionally found (with varying degrees of salinity) from independent bottlers.

1822

Alexander Wilson starts the Tochineal distillery

1831

Alexander Wilson dies, his nephew Alexander Wilson takes over

with the back of the 6th Earl of Seafield

1853

The owner of the Estate the 7th Earl of Seafield took up daties

Alexander Wilson closed the distillery and startet a new distillery

on a new site, about 15 kilometres to the west of Buckie

1852

Alexander Wilson dies and other members of the Wilson

amily kept running Inchgower till 1936

1871

The distillery is founded by Alexander Wilson

& Co which builds it using equipment from

the disused Tochineal Distillery

1936

Buckie Town Council purchases the site after

Alexander Wilson & Co goes bankrupt

1938

Arthur Bell & Sons buys Inchgower for £3,000

1966

Inchgower's capacity is doubled with the

addition of two new stills

1985

Arthur Bell & Sons is acquired by Guinness

1987

DCL merges with Arthur Bell, creating

United Distillers

1997

Inchgower 22 year 1974 is released in

the Rare Malts Series

2004

Inchgower 27 year 1976 is released in

the rare Malts Series

2010

2017

Inchgower is closed June - October this

year

A single casl is released from 1993

2018

A 27 year old in the Special Releases

Series

2020

Capacity: 3.200.000 Ltrs

Output: 3.200.000 Ltrs

CONDENSER TYPE i

Shell and tube

FERMENTATION TIME i

46hrs

FILLING STRENGTH i

63.5%

GRIST WEIGHT (T) i

8.36

HEAT SOURCE i

Steam

MALT SPECIFICATION i

Non peated

MALT SUPPLIER i

Mainly in house

MASH TUN TYPE i

Lauter

NEW-MAKE PHENOL LEVEL i

Non peaty

NEW-MAKE STRENGTH i

65-66%

SPIRIT STILL CHARGE (L) i

8,000

SPIRIT STILL SHAPE i

Plain

STILLS i

WASH STILL CHARGE (L) i

12,900

WASH STILL SHAPE i

Plain

WASHBACK TYPE i

Lauter

WASHBACKS i

WATER SOURCE i

Minduff Burn

WORT CLARITY i

Cloudy

YEAST TYPE i

Creamed

Diageo

1997 - present

United Distillers

1987 - 1997

Guinness UDV

1985 - 1987

Arthur Bell & Sons

1938 - 1985

Buckie Town Council

1936 - 1938

Alexander Wilson & Co

1871 - 1936

The Inchgower distillery was founded as ‘The Great Distillery of Inchgower’ in 1871 by Alexander Wilson and Co. It was intended that Inchgower would utilise the buildings and equipment of the old Tochieneal Distillery. The Inchgower distillery lies in Banffshire not far from the mouth of the River Spey and just on the outskirts of the fishing town, Buckie. The distillery was bought out by Buckie Town Council in 1936, following the bankruptcy of Alexander Wilson and Co. Two years later Arthur Bell and Sons acquired the distillery for £3,000.

During the 1960s Arthur Bell and Sons renovated the distillery and installed a further two stills, doubling the total capacity to a little less than two million litres annually. They also included Inchgower Scotch whisky as a component in the popular Bells blend, the vast majority of whisky produced at the distillery, as much as 99%, is used as a blending component. In 1985, Guinness acquired the distillery, and following the merger with Grand Metropolitan, Inchgower is currently under the watchful eye of Diageo. Despite being a relatively small-scale distillery, Inchgower boasts thirteen onsite warehouses which hold up to 60,000 casks. There have been very few official releases, though independent bottlings are available.