MEDIA INFORMATION

Glenglassaugh Distillery, Portsoy.  27 July 2010.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

• First account of historic distillery re-opening.
• Glenglassaugh – A Distillery Reborn written by Ian Buxton – with Foreword by Alex Salmond.

The Glenglassaugh Distillery Company today announces the release of Glenglassaugh – A Distillery Reborn, published in association with The Angel’s Share (NWP, Glasgow).

The 118 page full colour book was written by Ian Buxton, a well-known whisky writer and consultant, who has worked with the distillery since March 2008.  It records the history of the distillery from its establishment in 1875, through closure and the 2008 acquisition by the Scaent Group and Glenglassaugh’s subsequent refurbishment and re-opening.  Many archive photographs are included, together with stunning new photography of the restoration by renowned distillery photographer Ian McIlwain.

The distillery’s Managing Director, Stuart Nickerson, said:

“We are delighted with this book and our collaboration with The Angel’s Share. The result is a complete record of a remarkable story, told by a real insider, that is important both to the Scotch Whisky industry and this beautiful corner of Scotland.”

“We believe that Glenglassaugh – A Distillery Reborn will be of interest to our growing international customer base, whisky enthusiasts and local people.  It’s a fascinating story, well told, and a handsome book to grace any library.  We’d like to thank and congratulate Ian; Jules Akel, who designed the book and Alex Salmond, who contributed the Foreword in his previous role as our local MP.”

Glenglassaugh – A Distillery Reborn is available from the distillery; good bookshops everywhere; on-line at www.nwp.co.uk and www.glenglassaugh.com and from Amazon.

Retail price: £14.99 (paperback) ISBN: 978-1-906476-10-6
  £19.99 (hard cover)  ISBN: 978-1-906476-13-7

Background/Further Information

About Glenglassaugh

The Glenglassaugh Distillery is situated on the Banffshire coast in the North-East of Scotland, close to the small village of Portsoy. The distillery was built in 1875 by local businessmen to satisfy the growing global demand for Scotch Malt Whisky and the site was chosen due to its close proximity to a high quality water supply and easy access to the nearby barley fields.

After a visit in the late 1880s, the highly-regarded Victorian commentator Alfred Barnard described Glenglassaugh as “too well known to need any praise.”

More recently, spirit from Glenglassaugh was used primarily in blends such as Cutty Sark and The Famous Grouse. In 1986 the then owners mothballed Glenglassaugh as part of wider cutbacks in production and the distillery has remained silent thereafter. In 2008 The Scaent Group of Amsterdam purchased the distillery and have invested more than £1m to recommence operations and to reintroduce to discerning customers the distinctive and high quality attributes of The Glenglassaugh Single Malt Scotch Whisky.  For more information, please visit www.glenglassaugh.com

Redevelopment

The refurbishment and reopening of the Glenglassaugh Distillery have been managed by Stuart Nickerson, a renowned whisky expert, who was the sole consultant during the acquisition. Nickerson has worked in the Scotch Whisky industry since 1981 with a significant part of his career being with William Grants, where he was Distilleries Director.  Previously, he managed Highland Park Distillery, Glenrothes and Glenfiddich Distilleries in succession. He was appointed the new Managing Director of the Glenglassaugh Distillery Company in February 2008.

One of Stuart Nickerson’s first actions was the appointment of Graham Eunson as Distillery Manager, effective from 1st April 2008. Graham joined the Distillery from Glenmorangie where he was Manager of the world famous distillery for the last 12 years. Graham has also worked at Glendronach and Scapa distilleries.

Production at Glenglassaugh was restarted on 24th November 2008 by Rt Hon Alex Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister and the distillery’s MP.  Distilling was thus commenced under the guidance of Stuart Nickerson and Graham Eunson and “The Spirit Drink that dare not speak its name™” is the first product released to be made by the new management team.

Ian Buxton

Having worked in the Scotch Whisky industry since 1987 and with Glenglassaugh since March 2008, author Ian Buxton knows the company very well. 

His other publications include an introduction to Aeneas MacDonald’s Whisky; contributions to Beer Hunter, Whisky Chaser, co-author of Dorling Kindersley’s Eyewitness Guide to Whisky and the award-winning World Whisky and Whiskey and Philosophy (Wiley). He has written the history of John Dewar and Sons, The Enduring Legacy of Dewar’s as well as numerous magazine articles in the UK, Europe and the USA.

Ian is a Keeper of the Quaich, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers and a Grand Ordinary Member of the von Poser Society of Scotland.  He lives near Pitlochry on the site of a derelict distillery!

The Angel’s Share/NWP Glasgow

Neil Wilson Publishing is one of Scotland’s leading independent publishers. Under five imprints we produce a wide range of books with a Scottish (and, very occasionally, Irish) flavour. Whisky titles are published under The Angel’s Share imprint, with more than 20 titles currently available, including The Enduring Legacy of Dewar’s, also by Ian Buxton.  For more information, visit www.nwp.co.uk