History

St. Magdalene was a large Lowlands single malt distillery that operated for more than 200 years. It closed during the downturn of the Scotch whisky industry in the 1980s and never reopened. Bottlings are now extremely limited, and only a few matured casks remain. This gives St. Magdalene a legendary status among whisky lovers and makes it one of the most sought-after single malts for collectors worldwide.

Origin and location

The distillery was founded in Linlithgow in 1753 by Sebastian Henderson. It was located in the Bonnytoun area and was originally known as Linlithgow. In 1834 it moved closer to the Union Canal to be nearer the waterway and was named St. Magdalene. It had its own quay facility on the canal for transport of goods and whisky.

Ownership and closure

St. Magdalene was for a long time owned by the Dawson family. Adam Dawson took over Linlithgow in 1798, and in 1912 A&J Dawson went into liquidation, after which St. Magdalene became part of Distillers Company Limited (DCL). They remained owners until the distillery closed in 1983 in the wake of the industry downturn. Most of the buildings were demolished in the mid-1990s to make way for housing. The floor malting facility, kiln and pagoda are Grade-C-listed and cannot be altered and thus stand as the final reminder of Linlithgow's last single malt distillery.

Production and style

During its life, St. Magdalene was primarily used by blending houses and was known for a soft and classic Lowland style with a creamy mouthfeel and light fruit and delicate zesty notes. The spirit was largely matured in ex-bourbon casks. The current description suggests that the remaining stocks are very old and few in number; there is also mention of aging in Diageo-managed holdings and in independent bottlers such as Gordon & MacPhail, Douglas Laing and SMWS as sources in the modern market.

Bottlings and legacy

Earlier vintage bottlings included the now legendary Diageo Rare Malts releases, which contained St. Magdalene in the early group. Today, similar releases exist and there is great interest among collectors through independent bottlers such as Gordon & MacPhail, Douglas Laing and SMWS.

Taste and character

St. Magdalene is described as a soft and mild Lowland style with a creamy mouthfeel and light fruit and delicate zesty notes. The older spirit was unpeated in virtually all periods after the 1950s; early, lightly peated first generations are historically noted.

Summary

St. Magdalene stands as a legendary distillery in Lowland history with a long-lasting influence through blending and a coveted collector's status for older bottlings. Many of the details that were previously available through staff and stock are found in historical bottlings and independent bottlers rather than in newer official releases.