Scotland, Southern Highlands. Distillery operational. Owner: Lalique Cristal

The old adage “good things come in threes” is particularly apt when it comes to the Glenturret distillery. Indeed, its birth certificate could legitimately feature three dates: 1814 with Thomas McComish, before its closure during the 1850s; 1875, when Thomas Steward renamed his Hosh distillery Glenturret; and, finally, 1959-1960, when James Fairlie fully renovated the site and reopened the distillery. After a short period with the French company Cointreau, it eventually joined Highland Distillers (Edrington Group) and now makes an important contribution to the Famous Grouse blend. Despite its modest production, Glenturret has garnered something of a following among malt whisky enthusiasts thanks to the magnificent vintage editions (1966, 1967, 1976) launched in the mid-80s, alongside the distribution of its also popular classic versions. From the early 2000s, numerous single casks and small batch versions were added to the range, making Glenturret a collectors' distillery.

A Glenturret 8 Year Old from the 1970s. At the time, the range was composed of an 8 year old and a 12 year old, with a 15 year old added in the 1980s and an 18 year old in the 1990s. Vintages and numerous special edition decanters also exist. In 2003, Edrington—which has owned the distillery since 1999—discontinued all other versions in favour of a 10 year old.