Historie

The Glasgow Distillery Co. was founded in 2012 by two friends with a mission to reintroduce premium spirit production in Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow. They describe themselves as Glasgow’s distillery and as an independent family project that carries forward the city’s whisky traditions after the original Glasgow Distillery Company closed in 1902. Since the start they have developed a portfolio of whisky, gin, vodka and rum and emphasize an approach based on authenticity, transparency and accessibility. The company describes a small, handcrafted team (around 16 people) and an on-site cooper-house, water from Loch Katrine and an open approach to the process and the derivatives of their products.

Their Glasgow 1770 series was introduced as signature expressions – The Original (unpeated, double-distilled), Peated and Triple Distilled – and later supplemented by cask-strength versions and small batches through Small Batch Series. The Malt Riot story in the brand’s naming and storytelling universe provides a Glasgow tale of rebellion and innovation, which also sketches the city’s history in relation to whisky production.

Parallelt med whisky de udforsker de også andre spiritustyper som Makar Gin, Malt Riot Blended Malt, Banditti Club Rum og G52 Vodka.

Produktion og håndværk

The Glasgow Distillery Co. describes production divided into three annual distillation types: - Double distillation with unpeated malted barley, - Triple distillation with unpeated barley, - Double distillation with peated barley. This gives three different newly-made spirit-styles, which are rationed for annual releases – The Original, Peated and Triple Distilled.

Raw materials come from selected maltsters in the UK, the water is Loch Katrine, and yeast is chosen to give specific profiles. For peated spirit they use malted barley dried over heath and smoke, around 50 ppm. The fermentation of the yeast lasts normally 72 hours or more, and seven washbacks of 5,000 liters are used.

Distillation takes place in three sets of stills: two wash-stills (Tara and Margaret, each 2,500 liters) and two spirit-stills (Mhairi and Frances, each 1,500 liters). The individual ‘Hearts’ cuts are made at specific alcohol percentages (Triple Distilled: 81–75% ABV; Unpeated Double Distilled: 72–63% ABV; Peated Double Distilled: 72–57% ABV).

Maturation primarily occurs in first-fill ex-bourbon casks, while the peated styles often go directly into virgin American white oak from Kelvin Cooperage. They experiment annually with different cask types (wine, sherry, port, tequila, marsala, Tokaji, rum, etc.), all of which can become Limited Editions or Small Batch Releases. Fill strength is around 63.5% ABV at filling.

Produkter og serier

Glasgow 1770 The Original (Unpeated, Double Distilled)

Character: fresh and fruity; matures in first-fill ex-bourbon and finishes in virgin American oak. ABV typically 46%, non-chill-filtered and natural colour.

Glasgow 1770 Peated (Peated, Double Distilled)

Character: rich and smoky, with PX sherry finish; ABV 46%; natural colour and not-age-statement.

Glasgow 1770 Triple Distilled (Unpeated, Triple Distilled)

Character: fresher, fruity, with citrus and flowers; matured by a blend of ex-bourbon and virgin oak. ABV 46%.

Glasgow 1770 Cask Strength The Original (Batch 02)

Cask Strength edition of The Original: 59.5% ABV; released in only 750 bottles, blending three selected casks (all ex-bourbon, finished in virgin American oak). Not chill-filtered, natural colour.

Glasgow 1770 Cask Strength Peated (Batch 02)

Cask Strength Peated: 60.7% ABV; 1,000 bottles; maturation in virgin American oak, finished in PX Pedro Ximénez sherry hogsheads.

Glasgow 1770 Bourbon Cask Matured

8-year-old non-age-statement single malt with half unpeated and half peated spirit, matured exclusively in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels. ABV 54%.

Glasgow 1770 Constantia Wine Cask Batch 01 (Unpeated)

5-year-old edition, finished in Constantia dessert-wine barriques; ABV 56.6%.

Glasgow 1770 Syrah Wine Cask Batch 01 (Unpeated)

5-year-old, finished in Greek Syrah (Evvia) red wine casks; ABV 59.3%.

Glasgow 1770 Ruby Port Cask Finish (Unpeated)

6-year-old, finished in Ruby Port hogsheads; ABV 55%; 6-year profile: summer berries, vanilla and pink peppercorn; not chill-filtered.

Glasgow 1770 Cognac Cask Finish (Small Batch Series)

6-year-old (Batch 02) – blend of un-peted and peated styles, finished in Cognac-barrique-fade; ABV 58%.

Besøg og oplevelser

The Glasgow Distillery Experience

Opened to public tours in 2025. Two-hour tour and tasting in a working distillery, including the opportunity to taste whisky directly from the cask and visits to the lab and cooper-workshop. Price around £45. Tours are held on selected weekdays from July 2025. Based in Hillington, Glasgow (8 Deanside Road, G52 4JF). Book via Eventbrite.

They also describe a distillery tour experience with a competent host who is not a private guide and includes access to temporary bottlings and distillery-exclusive projects.

Særlig omtale af samarbejder og events

On the website they mention ongoing news and events such as spectacular bottling events with third parties (The Whisky Shop, Royal Mile Whiskies) and e.g. Christmas-/festive events (festive cocktails and limited editions).

Filosofi og værdier

• Authenticity: the distillery is located in Hillington and places clear emphasis on practical craftsmanship, small-batch and transparent processes.
• Transparency: details about production and products are shared as far as possible on the website, including cask-numbers and batch designations.
• Accessibility: the aim to offer quality products accessible to a broad audience and not only the premium segment.

Their approach also emphasizes on-site collaboration and an open dialogue around their products and stories, reflecting their goal of sharing Glasgow stories through spirits.