Why?
Why Glen Mhor? A good question, and one I've been asked many times and no doubt, will continue to answer.
Why not? Would be my initial response. A distillery is a distillery, and Scotland has an arsenal of examples that have fallen by the wayside and ceased production. I also recall Glen Mhor's life being labelled as dull, or words to that effect, by an old Malt Maniacs page. That always stuck with me, because I knew differently, but never got around to documenting the distillery visibly until starting this site in 2021.
In reality, Glen Mhor is overlooked (as is its neighbour, Glen Albyn, literally across the road as you can see above), a distinctive Highland whisky, charismatic and challenging. To the North, Brora, rightfully attracts love and attention. On Islay, Port Ellen sends whisky enthusiasts into raptures and in Falkirk, Rosebank, is the jewel of the Lowland region.
Glen Mhor was in existence for less than a century and the site has been wiped out by a retail park. It remains a variable and difficult whisky to experience. Unlike many distilleries of the time, it was often bottled as a single malt and thanks to the staunch support of Gordon & MacPhail, there are many whiskies to explore. The majority of releases from Glen Mhor are ex-bourbon casks, so there is a rich orchard of whiskies to consume and appreciate.
Upon starting this project, a whisky friend suggested that every closed or lost distillery should have a website such as this. That's a huge undertaking, but he's essentially right. For a product that is as Scottish as haggis, tartan or bagpipes, the lost distilleries of Scotland get a raw deal. They may have been altered and demolished by their owners, but for many of us, they live on.
Hopefully, my efforts here will educate and enhance your appreciation of Glen Mhor - I've certainly enjoyed the journey so far.
Due to the success of this project and the fact that Mackinlay & Birnie purchased the Glen Albyn distillery in 1920, I've started a similar website for its neighbour. And never one to ignore the other Inverness distillery, a Millburn website has commenced. My focus remains on Glen Mhor, but I'm enjoying mixing it up with the Invernessian distilleries.
The added benefit of this additional focus elsewhere in Inverness, will and has, turned up relevant information to Glen Mhor that I can publish.
My thanks to everyone that has assisted me in compiling this resource, which is ongoing and I'm always on the lookout for new information - please get in touch if you can help.
Cheers, Jason J.
If you want to use any of our research or material, please ask and also give credit. That's all we ask given the time and money we've spent building this destination.
Hi Jason, I'm from Argentina and I'm known as Tito Whisky. I dedicate myself to making whiskey reviews and giving tastings and courses. I came to your page researching for the review of Shackleton whiskey and I find all the work you are doing with this and other ghost distilleries incredible and admirable, it really is a very valuable source of information for those of us who are dedicated to communicating about whiskey, I am going to mention the site in my video and i will notify you when it is published on youtube. You really do an excellent job, congratulations. Greetings from Argentina.(google translate)
ReplyDeleteHi Hector
DeleteThanks for the kind words on what I've put together here. I never expected it to go as far as it has done and I'm pleased to make all the information available to everyone. Glen Mhor just needed someone dedicated to pull it all together. I look forward to the video!