Timeline

This is a constant work in progress, with various dates already being identified for the same event or addition. We'll try to make sense of them all whilst celebrating Glen Mhor and building a comprehensive timeline.

1815

Charles Mackinlay establishes a wine merchant's in Leith, Edinburgh.

29th April 1884

John Birnie marries Mrs Birnie, and they would be together for many happy years, managing to celebrate a golden wedding anniversary 50 years later. 

1885

John Birnie takes charge of the Glen Albyn distillery, after spending 8 years at Benrinnes. A former banker, he would be instrumental in creating Glen Mhor. He was also a keen golfer, curler and had a farm at Balnafettack, North West Inverness.

January 1886

The Inverness Dean of Guild Court approves 'a new distillery', called Glen Mhor and opening that October. Note: I've yet to find this entry in the Dean Guild records. 

1892

Harpers Weekly reports that annual production at Glen Albyn had trebled in 5 years thanks to 'the active management of Mr John Birnie, the manager and distiller, who is well qualified for the position he occupies.'

1892

Sir Kenneth Matheson, the 2nd Baronet of Lochalsh, the largest landowner in Ross-shire, agrees with Mackinlay & Birnie on the distillery site by the Caledonian Canal. 

 

1892

Glen Mhor is founded by John Birnie and James Mackinlay. It was James' brother (Charles W. Mackinlay) who introduced him to Mr Birnie. The Mackinlay's were aware of increasing demand from export markets for Highland malt and were seeking a new venture. Designed by Charles Doig and located over 4 acres on Telford street at the Muirtown basin at the Inverness end of the Caledonian Canal.

16th November 1893

A newspaper article briefly mentions a new 'pretty large scale' distillery for immediate erection with John Birnie as owner.  

16th November 1893

The Banff Advertiser reports 'Mr John Birnie, late manager of Glenalbyn Distillery, Inverness, has taken off a feu for the immediate erection of a new distillery...' 

In Weir's 1974 PHD on Distilling, it is noted that the partners at Glen Albyn 'squabbled' prompting John to leave.

8th January 1894

The Inverness Dean Guild approves the plans for a distillery on Telford Street, Muirtown, subject to the 'height of the smoke shaft not being less than 60 feet.' 

12th January 1894

The Elgin Courant reports the dimensions of the site as being 'the frontage of the whole building, which will look southwards, extending to 150 feet. The side part will run parallel with Telford Street to the extent of 130 feet. The Malt barn will be two storeys, 25 feet wide and will stretch the whole length of the building. The grain store will be 125 feet long by 25 feet broad.'

1894

Harpers Weekly describes Glen Mhor as being 'three extensive blocks built in the form of a triangle, the right wing containing the large malt barns, kiln and granary, which later abuts on the canal, giving easy facility for the discharging of grain from steamers and barges. The left wing is apportioned to the mashing department, fermenting room and still house, the whole being fronted by malt stores, mill room, distillery and excise offices and private rooms for the partners. There is nothing decoration or grand about the appearance of the buildings; nevertheless they are most solidly constructed and well arranged for carrying on the world efficiently.'

1894

The distillery is noted to have 'the tun-room, over 40 feet in length with a concreted floor, and contained four large fermenting vessels, each with a capacity of 6500 gallons. Space has here been reserved, for an extension to hold other four tuns.'

The original warehouse formed the south wall of the site and was 315 feet in length, able to store 150,000 gallons of whisky.

16th May 1894

A receipt for John Birnie after paying for slater work at the new distillery.

18th June 1894

The owners of Glen Mhor take out fire insurance to protect them from the scourge of any distillery. The document is available to view in our Document Section.

27th August 1894

Mackinlay & Birnie submit a planning application for the original Glen Mhor warehouse.

7th September 1894

Glen Mhor distillery, along with other breweries and distilleries in the area, is advertising the availability of draff for sale suggesting that production had begun.

28th October 1894

A local carting invoice from Donald Macdonald, shows the movement of peat and other items to the distillery.

November 1894

An order to the Glenboig Union Fireclay works by Charles C. Doig. highlights the properties of brick used at Glen Mhor, and a requirement for additional piping following a leakage - suggesting that distillation runs were underway,. 

8th December 1894

Production begins officially - this date is now disputed due to the above entry. John Birnie prefers to buy home grown barley by the customary practice of 'buying grain round the door', until the whisky boom of the 1890s made it more expensive and Glen Mhor, like many other distilleries, utilised foreign barley until 1898, when the boom ended and local prices softened.

18th December 1894

Mr Robert Robertson officially leaves his role as Assistant Brewer at the Mortlach Distillery to take up his role as Head Brewer at Glenmore in Inverness, aka Glen Mhor. He would remain in this role, on-site, until his passing in 1937.

May 1895

An insurance document for 'whisky stock' confirms the arrival of 2 new warehouses at Glen Mhor (warehouses 3 & 4) that required cover prior to be filled with casks.

22nd May 1895

A banking receipt from this date confirms where exactly Mackinlay & Birnie did their banking business in Inverness, following in the footsteps of many other distillers.

23rd May 1895

John Birnie is quoted by the Aberdeen Press & Journal, as a distiller and being in favour of the Great North Bill.

August 1895

An invoice from Fountain Brewery in Edinburgh, confirms Glen Mhor was using their brewers yeast for the prior year.

November 1895

An application is made to extend the solitary warehouse on the distillery site from 200ft to 315ft. Also included in the application, is a small warehouse near Telford Street measuring 50ftx25ft.

22nd October 1895

An advert for a Glen Mhor Stillman vacancy appears in the local press.

26th December 1895

The warehouse expansion is approved by the Inverness Dean Guild.

4th January 1896

Charles W. Mackinlay dies suddenly at a young age and James Mackinlay takes his eldest son, Charles Mackinlay, into partnership with a Thomas Dewar. We look further into this tragic event.

August 1896

Barley from Muirtown, near Inverness, is being used at the distillery.

October 1896

Electric lighting is introduced at the distillery, powered by a nearby canal turbine.

17th November 1896

Plans are drawn up by Inverness based Ross & MacBeth, to add more warehousing to Glen Mhor. These plans are currently lost and appear on our Wanted page. It is our belief these plans added 2 new warehouses, 132 feet in length and 32 feet in width, that would form the template for future additions.

January 1897

The cost of building houses and a bonded warehouse is noted to be £1700. This new warehouse joins onto the northern side of the existing warehouse and was around half its length, backing onto the football ground behind.

18th August 1897

Robert Robertson of Glen Mhor, marries Kate Ann Eccles, with the distillery workers presenting him with a gift the day before. 

October 1897

Mackinlay & Birnie publish a booklet entitled Pictures of Inverness, with a peep into Glen Mhor Distillery, by Alfred Barnard.

1898

The entire production for this season is sold-out in advance to blenders and trade contracts.

1898

A supplement is published in The Distiller's and Brewers' and Trade News, where John Birnie essentially gives a distillery tour and discusses some of the forthcoming alterations at Glen Mhor.

16th May 1898

Plans are submitted to the Dean Guild for a series of alternations across the distillery site.

20th October 1898

Mackinlay & Birnie petition the council on this day with their plans to build new warehouses on the distillery site.

24th October 1898

Representatives of Mackinlay & Birnie appear in the Inverness Guild Court, to debate the contested building of new warehouses on the eastern edge of the distillery site. These plans are contested by Sir Kenneth Matheson, the 2nd Baronet of Lochalsh (owner of the land that will border on the warehouses), plus other neighbouring firms.

14th November 1898

Warehouse plans are submitted for approval under the title Additions to Glenmore Distillery for Mackinlay & Birnie.  

19th November 1898

Planning for a duty-free warehouse in Telford Street was approved with a projected cost of £573 and announced in the local press.

1st November 1899

Glen Mhor releases its prices for the new season of whisky production.

16th May 1904

The distillery grounds are flooded but the buildings escape damage, we've uncovered further details on the canal accident that caused mayhem in Muirtown and drew crowds thereafter.

12th September 1904

An application to the Dean Guild to extend the existing Workmen's Houses is approved.

1906

The firm is incorporated as Mackinlay & Birnie Limited, with the principle shareholder being Charles Mackinlay. John Walker & Sons acquire a 40% interest in Glen Albyn distillery.

25th April 1906

The suggested date of an indulgence granted by Customs & Excise - this would relate to production equipment. The date was highlighted on a much later record. 

1907

Ernest Shackleton ships bottles of Mackinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt to the South Pole for his expedition. These are later discovered over a century later and scientifically examined confirming the source as Glen Mhor.

22nd November 1907

Robert Ferguson, the original Exciseman for Glen Mhor retires, as this newspaper article confirms and highlights how respected he was by the distillery team.

9th March 1909

Glen Mhor features in an Inverness listing of companies supporting its employees who wish to train for the Territorial Forces.

1909

Glen Mhor only operates at a third of capacity during the winter months.

1910

The distillery is idle for 5 months during the summer.

1910

John Birnie, co-founder and distiller of Glen Mhor, becomes Provost of Inverness for 6 years. In total, he would serve 16 years on the town council. He also served as treasurer and as the magistrate for 3 years.

1910

Amazingly, John Birnie also found the time to become the President of the Malt Distillers' Association of Scotland until 1912.

1914

Future Glen Mhor exciseman, G.W. Peterkin, is listed with the Inverness Inland Revenue as part of the Customs Warehouse team.

1914

A new date for the introduction of the new and larger mash tun is suggested in the Distilleries of Great Britain and Ireland article - published in 1924.

1914

A planning application is submitted to the Inverness Dean Guild to approve additional warehousing.

4th May 1914

The Dean Guild approves plans to add four new warehouse to existing stock, completing the warehousing on site that we know numbered nine in total.

June 1916

A Highland Railway Company invoice shows the movements of goods at Glen Mhor and coal being landed at the Muirtown Basin.

July 1916

A further Highland Railway Company invoice Highland Railway Company invoice includes a variety of cask shipments, but of most interest, a shipment of brass from Alloa, which Alan Winchester speculated could be to replace the rummager on site.

August 1916

A hugely interesting Highland Railway Company invoice includes a bag of brass and a variety of independent shipments.

September 1916

A new month of comings and goings thanks to the Highland Railway Company invoice for the month.

November 1916

A sizeable document from the Highland Railway Company, underlines Glen Mhor is geared up for a new season.

November 1916

A second shipment invoice shows us the movement of the raw materials needed for distilling in sizeable quantities, delivered via the Canal Basin at Muirtown.

December 1916

The final Highland Railway invoice provides further insight into traffic around the distillery as the festive season approaches.

January 1917

Glen Mhor was not only providing casks to Mackinlays in Leith, but also Johnnie Walker and Slate Rodgers Co. both based in Glasgow. Casks were also sent to Black & Ferguson in Aberdeen and also in Leith, A. Baillie & Co, MacDonald & Muir and Ford & Sons. As shown in this Highland Railway Company invoice.

February 1917

A Highland Railway Company invoice for this month confirms the coal source for Glen Mhor and a variety of yeast for various suppliers.

16th February 1917

An invoice from Donald McDonald, carting contractor, shows the movement of goods into Glen Mhor including barley, malt and coal.

March 1917

A new Highland Railway Company invoice provides more yeast information including Youngers in Edinburgh and a mystery of 42 casks.

April 1917

Another month, another Highland Railway Company invoice, which continues to reveal yeast sources and blenders who valued Glen Mhor.

May 1917

This Highland Railway Company invoice reveals more regular yeast deliveries and the sheer number of casks Walkers & Sons of Kilmarnock were ordering from the distillery for their Johnnie Walker blends.

June 1917

Maturing whisky from Glen Albyn, is kept at Glen Mhor during the US navy occupation until 1919. The stills at Glen Mhor also fall silent as barley records in our Documentation section confirm. Works starts to prepare the site for the naval base conversion in June.

26th June 1917

A beautiful invoice from John Walker & Sons for cask filling for the season provides food for thought in this article.

27 November 1917

The first intake of men arrived from the US Navy. 3000 barrels of whisky are moved from Glen Albyn to Glen Mhor for safekeeping.

3rd January 1918

Kate Ann Eccles, wife of distillery manager Robert Robertson, passes away on site aged just 42. The family would live at Glen Albyn House on Telford Street however her gravestone confirms she died at 'GlenMhor Distillery'.

9th February 1918

The military base comes online and starts producing mines. The US National ensign is hoisted for the first time.

17th September 1918

The US Navy base is completely demobilised and turned over to a UK naval officer at 10am.

10th January 1919

Distilleries across Scotland are allowed to commence production. Glen Mhor is delayed possibly due to the previous occupants.

1st March 1919

Glen Mhor restarts production.

1920

Glen Mhor distillery takes over Glen Albyn distillery. Both will eventually run in tandem. This means that the mooted plans for expanding Glen Mhor will be more restrained.

5th July 1920

Caledonian FC receive approval for their new grandstand, the plans of which (from June 1920) give us a snapshot of the layout of Glen Mhor at this time.

1921

Neil M. Gunn becomes the Exciseman at Glen Mhor.

1921

John Birnie moves across the road and into Glen Albyn House, which was used by the former directors of the newly purchased distillery. 

30th September 1921

An invoice for Glen Mhor and Glen Albyn, shows 134.5 tonnes of Eday peat arriving.

6th February 1924

Mackinlay & Birnie make a sizeable donation to the Anti-Prohibition fund, based in Edinburgh.

7th February 1924

A further donation of sorts, but this time to the Whisky Association in London.

7th October 1924

Plans for a new Glen Mhor distillery office on Telford Street are approved by the Inverness Dean Guild.

24th November 1924

An article on Glen Mhor is published as part of the Distilleries of Scotland series and the third image is revisited. 

1925

A third still installed along with a larger mash tun and two new washbacks¹. Through our research, we've identified this previously unknown still and its size. A gas engine was possibly installed around this time to provide 19hp and to supplement the water turbine.

1925

The quayside access becomes increasingly used by both Glen Albyn and Glen Mhor. Receiving peat from Orkney, barley is also delivered and whisky is sent by canal to Glasgow. The use of the waterway continued until the arrival of the Second World War.

June 1926

Plans are submitted to the Inverness Dean Guild to extend the Manager's House at Glen Mhor, this leads to other discoveries. 

May 8th 1928

Ex-Provost John Birnie, is present at the laying of the foundation stone for the Inverness Infirmary with Mackinlay & Birnie supporting the construction via a 1924 donation. 

1930

A year of major change at the distillery in terms of management structure. James Ritchie joins Glen Mhor as head brewer and later in the decade he would be promoted. Robert Robertson moves into Glen Albyn House and assumes the role of managing both distilleries. Allowing John Birnie to move off-site and assume a more directorial role.

5th September 1932

Glen Mhor is one of seventy-eight distilleries to close due to increase excise duty costs. This results in many seasonal employees becoming out of work as the usual number of 30 employed reduces to just 2.

15th October 1934

Glen Mhor begins distilling for the season and announces it will be using more Scottish barley in doing so.

10th November 1934

John Birnie's wife, Catherine Jane (maiden name Stronach), passes away, aged 77.

2nd July 1936

Application as part of Glen Mhor's silent season to test the worms for a leak, by blanking the tailpipe. You can see the full entry here.

3rd July 1936

An enhancement to the Spirit Safe is recorded that makes the distiller's job much easier.

22nd July 1936

A request to replace piping between the Feints Charger and No.2 Low Wines Still.

21st October 1936

A problem with the wash still anti-collapse value prompts a risky decision.

27th April 1937

A decline in volume leads to the discovery of a leaky still.

22nd June 1937

Silent season arrives at the distillery and a new set of requests for internal repairs.

1937

Neil M. Gunn leaves his role as Exciseman to pursue his ambition of becoming a full-time writer.

15th July 1937

A request to repair the spent Lees Receiver number 2, reveals a siphon device meant to increase the lifestyle of the stills.

12th October 1937

Robert Robertson passes away at Glenalbyn House on Telford Street. He had been the distillery manager of Glen Mhor for 43 years (since its foundation) and prior to this had been at Mortlach Distillery. He was 72 years old and secretary of Messrs Mackinlays and Birnie.

1938

The Licensed Houses and their Management publish two previously unseen images of Glen Mhor.

13th October 1937

A request for the spirit stores to be left open at both Glen Albyn and Glen Mhor, reveals a previously unknown upgrade.

17th January 1938

A leak is identified, and work takes place to correct the issue.

26th January 1938

The new manager at Glen Mhor wishes to ascertain the status of the original Low Wines Still which was mothballed when the new still was installed in the 1920s.

25th February 1938

Details of Robert Robertson’s estate are revealed.

4th April, 1939

John Birnie's son, Charles, dies aged 42. 

9th June 1938

Nothing much to see as silent season marks the arrives of the routine maintenance request.

23rd November 1938

The newer of the 3 stills requires some urgent attention.

12th December 1938

An accident in the washback area, provides a vital clue.

1939

William Birnie publishes his first statistical analysis of Scotch production, spending up to 4 months annually working on a labour of love that would continue into the early 1970s.

1939

A wonderful image taken in 1939, captures the Glen Mhor forever.

14th April 1939

Another sizeable accident leads to all manner of investigation and new discoveries.

16th April 1939

A simple request about mashing on a Sunday, underlines the importance of the Caledonian Canal as the water source for the distillery.

24th May 1939

A routine silent season request opens the door for future entries and work in the log.

25th May 1939

Proposed work on the No.2 Low Wines Still gives us some valuable insight.

28th June 1939

An entry, confirming the defective copper plates on the No.2 Low Wines Still have been successfully replaced.

29th June 1939

A sketch of all things! Plus a request for an indulgence when it comes to the original Low Wines Still.

7th July 1939

The aforementioned Low Wines indulgence work is assessed and documented as per the terms of the agreement.

27th March 1940

Customs and Excise grant an indulgence around rule 162, something that's being seen on a regular basis now.

4th April 1940

A fascinating entry, revealing Glen Mhor's estimated versus actual output for the year and the implications of the war.

23rd April 1941

Just over a year on from an indulgence request around rule 162, the same request appears once again.

28th August 1941

The business of selling casks continues despite the war restrictions and we are given some insight into this practice and what happens when things don't go according to plan.

26th June 1942

The Glen Mhor exciseman is promptly called to assist with a fire at Glen Albyn distillery and break the warehouse lock.

15th September 1942

Even with the war raging and the threat of closure, work was still ongoing to improve conditions at Glen Mhor, as this enhancement to the Spirit Safe proves.

25th February 1943

A remarkable entry involving Glen Albyn and a new brief distillate at Glen Mhor.

26th March 1943

Glen Mhor falls silent due to World War 2 restrictions making it one of the last distilleries to close.

22nd April 1943

A Customs & Excise entry that reveals working conditions and temporary arrangements during the war on site. 

24th April 1943

A report on the issue of maintaining casks and their movement as sales continue.

29th April 1943

For Prisoner of War Week, a cask of Glen Mhor is sold for £400 at charity auction, after being donated by Mackinlay & Birnie.

15th May 1943

Excess production accounted for by Customs & Excise, plus a one-off distillation at Glen Mhor using up left over feints. 

18th February 1944

The Glen Mhor logbook records wartime damage at Glen Albyn distillery thanks to some bad army driving.

8th November 1944

Glen Mhor is among the 32 distilleries given permission to restart distilling in the New Year.

6th August 1945

A very significant date in world history, gives us insight into Glen Mhor being back in production and where is our faithful exciseman?

5th September 1945

Gilbert W. Peterkin returns and documents another indulgence being granted to Glen Mhor.

7th September 1945

An informative entry, which gives us insight into shift patterns at the distillery, the follow-up outcome following a loss in the stillroom and a stillman being disciplined for carelessness.

20th February 1946

Alistair, son of John Birnie, dies aged 51.

23rd February 1946

John 'Jack' Birnie passes away after a short illness. The co-founder and former distiller at Glen Albyn and Glen Mhor, was the managing director of Mackinlay's & Birnie Limited. He was 91 at the time of his death and noted to be 'the oldest distiller in Scotland'. His final resting place is at Tomnahurich Cemetery near the distillery.

23rd March 1946

Gilbert notes the issues around brewing and distilling in the face of legislative changes and their impact at Glen Mhor. We also learn the sabbath was respectfully followed at the distillery and old practices. 

24th June 1946

This first of three planning applications to the Inverness Guild, reveals a new expanded spirit store which includes a small Excise office.

14th October 1946

A new planning application for the extension of the existing workers cottage on the Telford Street side of the distillery site is submitted and approved. 

28th October 1946

A further planning application for a new building on Telford Street is approved by the Dean Guild. This building still stands today.

10th May 1947

A new image of the Glen Mhor filling station appears in the Daily Record newspaper.

September 1947

Mackinlay & Birnie submit a planning request for a new barley hopper and brewing plant at Glen Mhor. 

10th November 1947

An issue with the Spirit Pump is documented and approval for an urgent repair from Customs & Excise.

28th December 1947

A request to amend the distilling regulations so the distillery team could have some seasonal time off. 

1949

A new dressing plan built by George Porteous & Sons, is installed. Able to receive grain by road, rail or canal. A series of Conveyors (also by George Porteous & Sons) was also introduced, allowing swift transportation to the grain stores.

1949

Grain Store capacity is more than doubled without any extra building - this suggests that one of the unused malting floors was adapted for grain storage.

June 1949

The ending of floor malting on-site and the malting floor being prepared for a Saladin Box.

July 1949

The capacity of the Kiln is more than trebled. Two conical Steeps (by George Porteous & Sons) are also installed. 

17th October 1949

The Saladin Box comes online at Glen Mhor, making it the first malt distillery to utilise the technology. The Box has 60-foot long concrete walls, 8-feet apart and 6-feet high.

5th November 1949

Footage has emerged of a football match at Telford Street Park, clearly featuring the Glen Mhor warehouses that made up the so-called distillery end by fans.

18th November 1949

The Saladin plant is officially opened with the Company Chairman and Directors in attendance for a special dinner with the Member of Parliament for Inverness-shire and his Wife, Sir Murdoch and Lady Macdonald, together with the Provost of Inverness and his Wife, Mr and Mrs Grigor. 

19th November 1949

Staff and their friends were entertained to a Dinner Party in the Cumming's Hotel. Mr William Birnie, Managing Director, informed the gathering that it was a dual function, first to commemorate the opening of the Saladin Plant at Glen Mhor distillery, and secondly, to commemorate the centenary of Glen Albyn Distillery.

31st March 1950

This entry reveals a faulty hydrometer, subsequent cask measurements allows Alan Winchester to calculate the efficiency of the warehouse 73 years later.

May 1950

Planning permission is submitted for further additions to the workers accommodation on Telford Street.

26th February 1952

The distillery logbook highlights a potential warehouse break in, or testing of the security features.

31st March 1952

Double duty is recorded at Glen Mhor as the Excisemen receive additional help from R.Rout and J.Middleton.

25th April 1952

William Birnie represents the Scotch Whisky Association when it comes to the debate over how young whisky should be for export.

July 1953

In an unpublished interview, William Birnie confirms that in total, 26 men are employed across both Glen Mhor and Glen Albyn.

1954

Electric motors are introduced to take over the powering of the malt mill, malt elevator and mashtun, which were previously powered by the water turbine. 

8th March 1954

A bill of sale confirms the selling of 10 casks of Glen Mhor to an individual in Montrose and gives us insight into the everyday business of filling orders

10th January 1955

Another bill of sale for 20 casks for the Montrose based bottler is recorded.

1956

Glen Mhor is supplying Archibald, Campbell, Hope & King of Elgin with stock for their Campbell's blend.

13th February 1956

A parcel of Glen Mhor casks are bonded in Montrose - a increasingly popular destination for the Highland whisky. 

12th March 1956

A new order for 20 casks from the same Montrose customer is received, and these are laid down in Glen Albyn Warehouse No.15.

1959

New warehousing is built at the back of the distillery site which can accommodate 285,000 gallons of whisky. It is of modern design, with no pillars and a five tier racking system. Note from the article link this could be early 1960s.

1960

Switchers for the washbacks, are no longer powered by water, as the turbine is retired.

1960

Scottish barley is now delivered by lorry to the distillery.

1960

The Distillers Company Limited acquires a stake in the Company of Mackinlay's and Birnie Ltd. This is rumoured to be around 46%.

1961

Charles Mackinlay & Co. are purchased by Scottish Newcastle Breweries.

19th March 1962

This entry highlights the movement of 20 casks to Hartlepool and a loss in transit.

31st January 1963

Annual statistics gathered by William Birnie are highlighted in the press, showing the shift in scotch consumption from the UK, to a more international audience.

1963

All the stills switched to steam heating, but were still fired by a coal-stoked furnace. At this time, Glen Mhor (and Glen Albyn) were one of the first to distilleries to adopt this innovation and it cost £18,000.

1964

A second modern warehouse is built alongside the 1959 warehouse, this identical construction cost £17,500. This would bring the total number of warehousing to 11 on the site.

18th October 1964

Glen Mhor is mentioned in a Miami Herald article as a distillery worth touring and also an example of the mysteries of Scotch - two distilleries almost side by side with the same inputs, yet two very different styles of whisky.

6th September 1966

A rarely seen example of a cancelled entry in the logbook confirms reconstruction of Glen Mhor warehouses (previously unrecorded) was taking place earlier in September.

7th September 1966

The very next day, we have a correction entry to the 6th log, revisiting the hours owed. As the 'reconstruction' lasted only 4 days, it seems likely some internal repairs were undertaken in one or more warehouses on site.

26th December 1966

The only known instance of theft we have found thus far, the distillery logbook documents a burglary at Glen Mhor and specifies the cask from which the burglars stole whisky.

21st February 1967

A prior mistake from Customs & Excise is noted and corrected around the weighing of a cask in 1962.

6th November 1967

Over a series of weeks, the fire alarm system and warehouse floors are strengthened at Glen Mhor and Glen Albyn.

12th April 1967

One of the last logbook entries, suggests extra exciseman cover was required at Glen Mhor, possibly these watchers were overseeing distillery repairs. 

26th January 1968

Mackinlay's & Birnie are quoted in the press, including the Herald Statesman, that output of Scotch whisky will decline in 1968 because of overproduction. The firm staid that 'stocks are at a record level, equal to 10.5 years consumption.'

12th December 1968

The first of a series of adverts appears that confirms Glen Mhor is using Golden Promise barley.

May 1970

William Birnie laments that no one in the industry is listening to his statical analysis that too much Scotch Whisky is being produced and distilleries will have to close.

24th January 1971

William Birnie attends a local curling event and presents a trophy named in his honour that remains in use today.

26th January 1971

Sales of Glen Mhor are booming in Italy, hence why 100 Italian salesmen arrive at the distillery and have their annual conference in Aviemore.

19th May 1971

The distillery offers tours, weekdays 10am to noon and 2 to 4pm. Making it one of the first to do so.

August 1971

A wonderful letter from Lt. James B. McMullin (Lancaster City Police) thanking the distillery for the tour and includes a photograph of the stills, in colour.

15th January 1972

William Birnie features in an article entitled Breaking Point for Whisky? That might explain why the Mackinlay and Birnie families decided to get out of the distilling business later that year.

1972

The Distillers Company make a successful offer for Mackinlay & Birnie, already owning John Walker & Sons, who had a 43.5% stake in the firm. 10.9% was owned by Mackinlay McPherson Ltd (Scottish & Newcastle Breweries Ltd.). With the remaining split between 11 members of the Birnie family and 14 members of the Mackinlay family. The offer of £765,000 (equivalent to £8.8 million in 2021) is accepted, citing the difficulties of recent years; 'the number of M&B's fillings has decreased due to greater integration within the industry and it is felt that this trend would continue.' DCL in comparison, badly needed Highland whiskies to supplement its blending stock. 

12th July 1972

The Department of Trade and Industry, gives the all-clear for the Distillers Company to take over Mackinlays and Birnie. 

1973

Glen Mhor is listed in  by Ross Wilson, as accepting visitors from mid-June to mid-September between 9.30am - 4.30pm. As the book was published in this year, the information may have been gathered the previous year, but in fairness, the owners are listed as D.C.L.

1973

It is likely that D.C.L. also ended the use of Foyers as a local peat source around this time.

January 1973

New owners, DCL, announce that the Glen Mhor 6 year old and 10 year old expressions, will cease being bottled in December 1973. Glen Mhor will now be for blending only, although independent bottlings are encouraged. 

3rd May 1973

William Birnie, son of  John Birnie and himself a former owner, passes away, aged 85. In the 1960s, he had predicted the overproduction of the Scotch whisky industry. His final resting place is at Tomnahurich Cemetery near the distillery.

1975

Glen Mhor foreman, Alexander ‘Sandy’ Campbell, retires and this prompts a celebration involving both Glen Mhor and Glen Albyn staff.

1975

The distillery is using 75 tons of barley per week.

November 1975

Head brewer, Angus Mackay, is featured in several American articles quoting the virtues of Glen Mhor as a whisky and the qualities that make it unique.

1976

A single malt Glen Mhor is introduced to the market as an 8 year old by independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail.

29th July 1978

Glasgow Rangers visit Muirtown, to play Caley at the adjoining football stadium and some discovered images give us a unique view of the 'distillery end' and new warehouse.

19th September 1980

Saladin Box and onsite malting closes. Malt is instead, delivered by truck from central maltsters due to the high costs of running the boxes. Barley type is suggested as being Golden Promise and Triumph, both peated.

1981

Short-time working is introduced at the distillery to reduce costs and output. This stays in effect for 2 years.

1983

The offices for the inspector of distilleries, Northern Group, for Scottish Malt Distillers Limited, is noted to be at Glen Mhor. A role held by Mr Allan.

16th February 1983

DCL announces a list of distilleries to close across Scotland (see our newspaper section) with Glen Albyn and Glen Mhor both closing with a combined loss of 22 jobs.

8th March 1983

The last distillation is run. This allows 12 weeks notice for closure.

31st May 1983

The distillery closes.

6th August 1985

Local residents protest about the development plans for the Glen Mhor site.

1985

The distillery is dismantled.

1985

Charles Mackinlay & Co. are acquired by Invergordon Distillers Ltd.

10th January 1986

Head warehouse operator, Mr D.J. MacDonald, receives a long service award from Scottish Malt Distillers.

1986

Philip Morrice visits the site of Glen Mhor and Glen Albyn for his 1987 Alfred Barnard book, just prior to demolition.

1986

Glen Mhor is demolished.

1993

Invergordon Distillers and thus Charles Mackinlay & Co., are acquired by Whyte & Mackay.

2007

Three cases of Shackleton whisky were discovered beneath Shackleton's base camp at Cape Royds frozen in ice, containing 11 bottles in total. This whisky is scientifically examined and confirmed to be from Glen Mhor.

28th March 2011

Ex-employee Rodney Burtt, writes to the Institute of Brewing & Distilling about his unpublished book about his time at Glen Mhor and Glen Albyn. Originally entitled Highland Gold, this was renamed in 1986, Spirits Within. So far, it remains lost and unpublished. 

2011

The Mackinlay's Shackleton whisky recreation is released in an edition of 50,000 bottles, with more editions set to follow. Famously, Whyte & Mackay Master Blender, Richard Paterson was challenged with the recreation. His eureka moment when trying to rebuild the whisky was to add a cask of 1983 Glen Mhor - a very rare vintage because the distillery hardly produced in its last year of existence. The whole concept is well documented in this New York Times article.

2015

Six casks of Glen Mhor are noted to be maturing at Royal Lochnagar distillery, which is part of the Diageo group and formerly DCL, which owned Glen Mhor.

30th June 2017

A write-up of the farmhouse at Balnafettack appears, showing us the distillery home for the Birnie family.

15 August 2017

J. Val Ritchie, formerly of Glen Mhor and Glen Albyn distilleries, passes away aged 86. 

8th March 2023

A Glen Mhor tasting is held in Edinburgh to remember the distillery on the anniversary of the last spirit coming off the stills 40 years prior.

¹ Some reports suggest that the mashtun and washbacks were installed prior to the first World War and the still was delayed until 1925.