Scotland, Speyside. Distillery operational. Owner: Brown Forman

Founded in 1875, Glenglassaugh was bought by the Highland Distilleries company (the future Edrington Group) in 1892. It is a model of stability, a fact which has nonetheless not enabled it to reveal its full potential. Probable causes include two long periods of closure, between 1907 and 1931, and 1936 and 1960, both fatal for the development of its stock; and the fact that it is surrounded by other renowned distilleries in the group, such as Bunnahabhain and Glenrothes (1887), and, after its move in 1892, Tamdhu (1898), Highland Park (1935), Glenturret (1990) and finally Macallan (1996).When Glenglassaugh reopened in 1960 after modernizing its equipment, its malt was primarily aged in second-fill sherry casks. In 1970, when Highland Distillers became the owner of the legendary blend Famous Grouse (as well as Black Bottle and Lang's), the Glenglassaugh malt was made a key component. In 1986, the distillery was mothballed once again. After a short period in the hands of Russian investors, it then joined the Benriach Distillery Co. group in 2013. Few bottlings of Glenglassaugh existed before the start of the new millennium, save for a classic 12 Year Old, a 1986 vintage and a magnificent 1973 named The Family Silver.

A Glenglassaugh 12 year old from the 1980s. The distillery was mothballed from 1986 until 2008. Official editions of Glenglassaugh are rare, as the single malt was not yet popular with the public. Its unique character also contributed to the distillery’’s struggles, as blenders found it difficult to use, a factor that likely led to it closing during the Whisky Loch, the major overproduction crisis that hit the industry in the 1980s.