North Port distillery dates from 1820 being established by the Guthrie family in the east coast town of Brechin. Preceding the all changing 1823 Act this is a relatively early establishment date and could be due to an act of 1818 which made legal distillation a degree more attractive. In 1809 founder David Guthrie set up the town’s first bank and along with other family members served as Provost (mayor). His son Dr Thomas Guthrie theologian, philanthropist and founder of Edinurgh’s ragged school has a statue on Princes Street, Edinburgh marking his many noteworthy deeds.

The distillery’s name dates from 1823 when Guthrie’s other sons, David and Alexander, took over and comes from the northern gate in the cathedral city walls. The company was originally called Townhead Distillery Co. but re-named in 1823 as Brechin Distillery Co. then again to Guthrie, Martin & Company just a year later. In 1893 the company became a limited partnership. By the late 19th century annual output was around half a million litres.

In 1905 there were “alterations and additions” followed by internal improvements in 1926. Like all malt distilleries it did not produce between 1917 & 1919 due to restrictions for the war effort. The owning company was bought by DCL and Manchester based W.H. Holt & Company Ltd. in 1922 and later transferred to SMD (Est. 1914) on the dissolution of the DCL/Holt partnership.

There was a period of closure between 1926 and 1937, then again between 1940 and 1947. Internal steam heating of the stills replaced direct firing in 1964. The maltings closed in 1968 when the nearby Glenesk drum maltings were commissioned.

The floor maltings were demolished in 1972 whilst the malt kiln was repurposed. Curiously power was once via an underground waterwheel using overflow from the distillery dam. This water was also used for cooling and travelled to the wheel by a 400m long tunnel cut through solid rock.

PHOTO CREDIT whiskybase.com/royalscotsman

There was a 5 tonne cast iron mash tun, 5 wooden washbacks, two onion shaped stills with worm tubs. Production capacity was .75ML. DCL subsidiary Mitchell Brothers used the malt for the Italian market in ‘Glen Dew’’ a vatted malt as well as in their Heather Dew blend.

After closure in March 1983 the property was sold in 1990 to be developed and the distillery was demolished in 1993/94 with a supermarket and carpark taking its place. Working against the case for mothballing the distillery was its poor condition, limited scope for expansion and superiority of spirit produced elsewhere.

Mark Davidson, aka The Jolly Toper Profile

Old Particular Secret Islay 9 Years Old

At Douglas Laing we are Fanatical About Flavour. Each of these Single Cask Single Malt and Grain bottlings are a celebration of taste above all else – chosen for their exceptional character, depth and individuality. We have purposefully kept the distillery ‘Secret’, setting aside expectations, inviting you to explore each dram with an open mind. Allow the Whisky to speak for itself through aroma, palate and finish… release your inner connoisseur!

£79.17

Our Old Particular Single Casks are a particularly sought-after range of individually-selected Single Malt and Single Grain Scotch Whiskies from all over Scotland. Each is bottled exactly the way the Distiller intended: without colouring or chill-filtration, and at high alcohol strength. This combination allows the cask to retain the naturally present oils, fats and enzymes in the spirit that enhance the quality of the nose, the mouthfeel and flavour profile of the Whisky.

SAMPLE IMAGE!

1974 Van Winkle 16 Year “Family Reserve” (Gold Wax) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky With Presentation Box 

$10,000.00

View

(750ml & Box) (Elsewhere $17000)

Girvan 30 Year Old 1991 Viking 1

Cask #TWB1022

£75.00 GBP

Girvan 30 Year Old 1991 vintage Lowland single grain Scotch whisky. Single cask 1st fill Palo Cortado sherry Hogshead #TWB1022 bottled September 2021. The fourth release of The Grant Tour series. Viking 1 space probe launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on August 20th 1975. Its lander was the first in history to successfully land on Mars. 162 numbered bottles.

After an eleven month journey the Viking 1 lander separated from its orbiter on July 20th 1976. The lander captured the first ever clear image from the martian surface and its biological instruments searched for life on the red planet.

Old Particular Secret Speyside 14 Years Old

At Douglas Laing we are Fanatical About Flavour. Each of these Single Cask Single Malt and Grain bottlings are a celebration of taste above all else – chosen for their exceptional character, depth and individuality. We have purposefully kept the distillery ‘Secret’, setting aside expectations, inviting you to explore each dram with an open mind. Allow the Whisky to speak for itself through aroma, palate and finish… release your inner connoisseur!

£79.17

Our Old Particular Single Casks are a particularly sought-after range of individually-selected Single Malt and Single Grain Scotch Whiskies from all over Scotland. Each is bottled exactly the way the Distiller intended: without colouring or chill-filtration, and at high alcohol strength. This combination allows the cask to retain the naturally present oils, fats and enzymes in the spirit that enhance the quality of the nose, the mouthfeel and flavour profile of the Whisky.

Augusta Limited Edition

Buckner’s

Single Barrel 13 Year

63.65% ABV | 127.3 Proof

A true Kentucky bourbon, this limited release whiskey unmistakably captures your attention and rewards you from nose-to-finish. Aged 13 years in new, charred oak barrels, Buckner’s offers an understated potency with exceptional balance, commemorating the distillery’s inaugural bottling. This unfiltered cask strength bourbon has a rare complexity that can only be found in a true Kentucky bourbon with properly aged maturity. Exotic spice and caramel notes are directly complemented by hints of buttery cream and cured tea leaves. Each sip provides an unforgettable experience that instantly returns you to the limestone hills of Kentucky only to demand further exploration.

Shop Now$239.99 | 750 ml

2025 SPIRIT BRAND OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

We’re thrilled to share that we’ve been named finalists for 2025 Spirit Brand of the Year in the 26th Annual Wine Star Awards by Wine Enthusiast! It’s an honor to be recognized among such inspiring leaders in the industry.

Tasting Mizunara Oak

We invite you to take a deeper journey into Glengoyne Mizunara Oak guided by the insights of Glengoyne Distillery Manager, Robbie Hughes. In a recent tasting within the quiet of Warehouse Seven, Robbie reflects on the extraordinary nature of Mizunara oak, its rarity, challenges, and the remarkable influence it imparts on our spirit.

Join Robbie as he shares his first impressions of this rare expression and the story behind its creation.

Robbie Hughes, Distillery Manager

A Cask Unlike Any Other

Sourced from Japan, Mizunara oak is revered for its scarcity and complexity. The oak’s porous nature and low tannin content create a maturation environment that is both subtle and transformative. Expect aromas of vanilla, sweet toffee, sandalwood incense, and lemon zest, followed by a palate that evolves from fleeting sweetness to warming spice, licorice, and a gentle woody dryness. Notes of coconut and crisp green apple linger, reminding us that while Mizunara brings something new, the heart of Glengoyne remains unmistakable.

“We’ve never produced a whisky with flavours like this” 

Robbie Hughes, Distillery Manager

Taste Mizunara Oak

On The Fine & Rare Tour

Visit our award-winning Glengoyne Distillery for a tutored tasting of four of our finest and rarest whiskies, now including Glengoyne Mizunara Oak, alongside the Glengoyne 30 Year Old Sherry Oak whisky, and a side-by-side comparison of our 24 Year Old White Oak and 25 Year Old Sherry Oak whiskies.

This is a showcase of the unique flavours from North America, Spain, and Japan.

VISIT GLENGOYNE

Slàinte Mhath,

The Glengoyne Team