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Lowlands

Lowland whiskies tend to be light and dry with hints of fruit and cut grass.

With only three active Lowland distilleries, the region is sometimes overlooked. They tend to be more subtle and offer none of the peat and smoke that many whisky drinkers love. Younger Lowlands can be very spirity but they improve greatly with age. The Lowland region’s silent still outnumber the active ones and many of these whiskies can still be found under independent labels, like Rosebank and Inverleven.

Auchentoshan

Auchentoshan still practices a true triple distillation process that makes their whisky light and delicate. The distillery takes the output from the wash still and distills the whisky twice in the spirit stills. Younger versions of Auchentoshan tend to be very grassy and spirity but the whisky does age well. The distillery is also only one of three that still operate in the Lowland region and is the market leader for Lowland malts. The distillery was bombed in World War II by the Luftwaffe but was rebuilt in 1949 and today collects its cooling water from a huge bomb crater left over from the war.

Gaelic Meaning: Corner of the field
Established: 1823
Pronunciation: Och en Tosh an
Region: Lowland
# of stills: 3
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01389 878561
Location: Dalmuir, Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, G81 4SJ

Style
Floral, fruity

Range
Select / $20 to $30
10 year old / $20 to $30
Three Wood / $45 to $55
18 year old Oloroso cask / $80 to $100
21 year old / $80 to $100
1973 / $450 to $500

www.auchentoshan.co.uk

www.morrsionbowmore.co.uk

Bladnoch

Just recently opened again after closing in 1993, Bladnoch is Scotland’s most southern distillery and one of only three still active in the Lowland Region. At one time the Lowland region had over 180 active distilleries. Now owned by Irishman Raymond Armstrong, Bladnoch not only has a visitor’s center it also offers a whisky making class. Bladnoch tends to rich with citrus and grassy flavors and the distillery has yet to issue a release under the new ownership. For now, Bladnoch is only available in older expressions distilled under United Distillers ownership.

Meaning of the name: Taken from the village of Bladnoch where the distillery is located

Established: 1817
Pronunciation: Blad noch
Region: Lowland
# of stills: 2
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01988 402605
Location: Bladnoch, Wigtownshire, DG8 9AB

Style
Cirtus, grassy

Range
15 year old / $60 to $70
15 sheep / $60 to $70
16 year old / $60 to $70
1977 Rare Malts / $90 to $110

www.bladnoch.co.uk

www.wildscotsman.com

Garnheath

Garnheath was established in 1965 within the Moffat grain distillery to produce grain whisky for the Inver House blends. Glen Flagler and Killyloch were also located within Moffat. The distillery operated 5 continuous stills before closing in 1986. The distillery has since been demolished.

Established: 1965
Pronunciation: Glen heath
Region: Lowland
# of stills: Silent still
Tours: Closed in 1986/ Demolished
Phone: None
Location: Moffat, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, ML6 8PL

Range
Closed distillery,
Independent bottles can be found from time to time

Glen Flagler

Glen Flagler was only opened for 20 years from 1965 to 1985. The distillery was built within the Moffat grain distillery to produce whisky for the Inver House blends. In addition to Glen Flagler, Killyloch and Garnheath were produced within Moffat. Glen Flagler was available as a single malt for a short period of time and is now extremely difficult to acquire.

Established: 1965
Pronunciation: Glen Flag ler
Region: Lowlands
# of stills: Silent still
Tours: Closed in 1985/ Demolished
Phone: None
Location: Moffat, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, ML6 8PL

Style
Nutty, floral, cirtus

Range
Closed distillery, Royal Mile Whiskies has a very expensive 1973 bottling

Glenkinchie

Glenkinchie is our favorite Lowland malt and the new Distiller Edition dram is simply delicious. Known as the 'The Edinburgh Malt', the distillery is located only 14 miles from the Scottish Capital. Glenkinchie has a visitor’s center that receives considerable traffic due to the distilleries location. Glenkinchie is one of only three active Lowland distilleries and its ten year old expression is part of the Classic Malt line. The distillery is also said to haunted by an old man with white hair and long whiskers. A body was found behind the maltings in 1902, so the ghost is thought to be a former maltster. Glenkinchie is an elegant flavorful malt and is always welcome in our whisky cabinet as the Lowland representative.

Meaning of the name: Named after the de Quincey family who owned the land the distillery is located on
Established: 1837
Pronunciation: Glen Kin Chee
Region: Lowland
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01875 342005
Location: Tranent, East Lothian, EH34 5ET

Style
Floral, dry

Range
10 year old / $35 to $45
Distillers Edition / $65 to $75

www.malts.com

Inverleven

Inverleven was built in 1938 along with the Dumbarton grain distillery within the same site. At one time the distillery operated a Lomond still which produced a heavier Lowland malt. Much of the equipment from the distillery was saved and found a home at Bruichladdich. The distillery was closed in 1991 and some independent bottlings remain.

Established: 1938
Pronunciation: In ver leven
Region: Lowlands
# of stills: Silent still
Tours: Closed in 1991
Phone: None
Location: Moffat, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, ML6 8PL

Style
Nutty, fruity

Range
Closed distillery, Try Gordon & Macphail

http://www.gordonandmacphail.com/ob_gordonMacPhail.html

Killyloch

Killyloch was opened in 1964 but only operated for a short time. The distillery was built within the Moffat grain distillery to produce whisky for the Inver House blends. In addition to Killyloch, Glen Flagler and Garnheath were produced within Moffat. Killyloch was to be named Lillyloch but a mistake was made in the labeling process. The dram is only available through independent bottlers and is very difficult to find.

Established: 1964
Pronunciation: Killee loch
Region: Lowlands
# of stills: Silent still
Tours: Closed / Demolished
Phone: None
Location: Moffat, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, ML6 8PL

Style
Cirtus, light

Range
Closed distillery, Royal Mile Whiskies has a very expensive 1967 bottling

Kinclaith

Kinclaith was used mainly in blends and operated for less then twenty years. It’s now very difficult to find as a single malt but Cadenheads and Gordon & MacPhail did offer bottlings several years ago. The malt does command a high price when it does come up for auction.

Established: 1957
Pronunciation: Kin claith
Region: Lowlands
# of stills: Silent still
Tours: Closed / Demolished
Phone: None
Location: Glasgow, G5 0ND

Style
Fruity, light

Range
Closed distillery, Occasionally comes up for auction

Ladyburn

Ladyburn only operated for a very short period of time and was closed in the 1970s. Built in 1963 the distillery was mainly used to produce malt for the Grant blends. The malt has become very expensive as stocks have dwindled. Ladyburn can be found in independent bottlings and at auction.

Established: 1963
Pronunciation: Lady Burn
Region: Lowlands
# of stills: Silent still
Tours: Closed / Demolished
Phone: None
Location: Girvan, Ayrshire, KA26 9PT

Style
Fruity, light

Range
Closed distillery, Duncan & Taylor has a pricy bottling that can still be found

Linlithgow

Linlithgow, also known as St Magdalene was built in 1798 on the site of a former hospital that treated lepers and later a convent know as St Magdalene. The distillery enjoyed some initial success and was aquired by the owner of a neighbor distillery known as Bonnytoun that formed one large distillery and kept the St Magdalene name. The distillery was closed 1983 and was been turned into housing.

Established: 1798
Pronunciation: Lin lith gow
Region: Lowlands
# of stills: Silent still
Tours: Closed
Phone: None
Location: Linlithgow, West Lothian, EH49 6AQ

Style
Grassy, older versions tend to be robust for a Lowland

Range
Closed distillery, available in some independent bottlings and was part of the Rare Malts line

Littlemill

Established in 1772, Littlemill predated the United States until its closing in the early 1990s. Up to that point the distillery was one of, if not the oldest distillery in Scotland. Any hope of reopening the distillery was dashed in 2004 by a fire that destroyed the distillery building. At one time the distillery made two other malts besides Littlemill, Dunglass and Dumbusk were last distilled in the early 1970s.

Established: 1772
Pronunciation: Little mill
Region: Lowlands
# of stills: Silent still
Tours: Closed
Phone: None
Location: Bowling, Dunbartonshire, G60 5BG

Style
Light, sweet

Range
Littlemill 12 year old / $35 to $45
Can also be found in Signatory bottlings

Rosebank

Of all the closed Lowland distilleries, Rosebank has the best chance to be reopened. Still owned by Diageo, the ‘Queen of the Lowlands’ is a flavorful complex malt that is still widely available. Rosebank was built in 1840 and was named after the roses that bloomed on the banks of the Forth-Cliyde canal. Rosebank employed the triple distillation method and this luxurious malt will surely be missed. You would be wise to stock up now before the malt becomes to expensive.

Established: 1772
Pronunciation: Rose Bank
Region: Lowlands
# of stills: Silent still
Tours: Closed 1993
Phone: None
Location: Falkirk, Stirlingshire, FK1 5BW

Style
Floral, flavorful

Range
Included in Diageo’s Flora Fauna and Rare Malts line
www.malts.com

St. Magdalene

St Magdalene, also known as Linlithgow was built in 1798 on the site of a former hospital that treated lepers and later a convent know as St Magdalene. The distillery enjoyed some initial success and was aquired by the owner of a neighbor distillery known as Bonnytoun that formed one large distillery and kept the St Magdalene name. The distillery was closed 1983 and was been turned into housing.

Established: 1798
Pronunciation: Saint Mag da Lin
Region: Lowlands
# of stills: Silent still
Tours: Closed
Phone: None
Location: Linlithgow, West Lothian, EH49 6AQ

Style
Grassy, older versions tend to be robust for a Lowland

Range
Closed distillery, available in some independent bottlings and was part of the Rare Malts line