It’s the most visited distillery in all of Scotland, and it’s not hard to understand why: it’s home to the oldest whisky vault in the country (making it one of the oldest anywhere on Earth), and produced the oldest whiskies ever sold at auction, with certain bottles going under the hammer a few years ago which were distilled in 1800! Stronger than ever, Laphroaig is one of the world’s most popular, and richly flavoured single malt Scotches, and is considered to be the quintessential Islay single malt by many, much like The Glenlivet is for the Speyside. Everybody who is anybody knows that Scottish history is inexorably tied to whisky history. None can deny how Scotch whisky is an absolutely crucial and integral part of Scotland’s history, and just how much it has shaped the country’s identity for centuries. To qualify for this category, a whisky must have been distilled at a single distillery using a pot still distillation process and made from a mash of malted barley. Strathisla Distillery, Keith, Scotland, 2. Glenturret Distillery, The Hosh, Crieff, Scotland. While being small, Oban manages to deliver considerable global clout, primarily as a result of being owned by drinks behemoth Diageo - a company that has helped Oban reach worldwide audiences on the hunt for genuinely authentic Scotch made in accordance to original and traditional recipes and principles. By Jonah Flicker. Many of the workers at the Old Pulteney distillery, known was Pulteney Distillery then, were also employed as fishermen due to the town’s proximity to the sea. It did not come along, however, until after the distillery changed ownership in 1990, thus making it over two centuries where this distillery was involved in other … Laphroaig. INSIGHT AT A TIME, Copyright @ 2020 The Whiskypedia | All rights reserved, Facts about some of the oldest and most enduring Scotch whisky brands, Your 1810: Old Overholt Rye Begins Production Considered to be America’s oldest continuously operating whiskey brand, Old Overholt was founded in Pennsylvania in … You can easily purchase hard to find vintage and rare Scotch whiskies from Lovescotch.com such as Bowmore 32 Year Old, Signatory Vintages, Macallan 50 Year Old Millennium and many more. Craft goods and small-batch, independent producers of character and distinction have become more and more popular in the drinks scene, led by a hip and in-the-know young audience on the lookout for products to fall in love with. The oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. That being said, there aren’t a whole lot of Scotch whisky distilleries which don’t consistently deliver when it comes to flavor, aroma, and character, every distillery on this list produces the kind of whisky which has plenty of stories to tell, and which feature all kinds of fascinating notes to discover. Founded just one year before Lagavulin was this similarly smoky and no less extraordinary neighbour. Age, history, and heritage all play a significant part in the world of fine whisky, with many whisky bottles proudly proclaiming their own mythologies and ancestries on their labels. This section brings you the rarest, most fascinating spirits and some of the most legendary Scotch whiskies. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn. They began blending and selling whiskies, and soon realized the importance of creating an exclusive blend that could carry their brand name. Check It Out. Now without further ado, the top five oldest scotch whisky distilleries! Perhaps the most easily recognized Scotch brands worldwide, Chivas Regal have not only been one of the oldest Scotch whisky brands but have also been pioneers of blended Scotch whisky. It's a competitive field, but these are the standout whisky distilleries you should get to know. John Collins. You're in! To learn more about Scotland's old distilleries, read on. This limited run of single grain scotch whiskey is one of the oldest whiskies at over 50 years old and is being sold at The Whisky Shop for €550. Made with Original. The very top dog is The Balvenie 50 Year Old, pricing on average over $37,000, with a max price of $50,000. Account, Terms & Over the years, the Laphroaig name grew in stature and later became embroiled in a bitter rivalry brought on by neighbouring Lagavulin Distillery owners. Scotch lovers have for years, undertaken pilgrimages to the beautiful country to visit and savour every aspect of this hugely interdependent history. Best Scotch Whisky Brands 1. It is now … Source : https://pixabay.com/photos/ballantines-glass-alcohol-1246125/. Here we are at the number one spot… and the award for oldest and most historic Scotch whisky distillery goes to the beautifully evocative Glenturret, a distillery which was founded in 1775, and which regularly finds itself lauded as the most beautiful in Scotland. This isn’t wholly surprising. She pioneered the success of Laphraoig in the overseas markets by pushing for exports to the American market. Some of the whiskies in this section are rarer than hen’s teeth. 3. It is one of the most widely known whiskey brand, and also the bestselling American whiskey brand across the world. Source : https://pixabay.com/photos/liquor-chivas-drink-3715039/. Braes of Glenlivet is the old name of Braeval (re-opened in 2008 by Chivas Brothers.) The people, distilleries and brands that have played a pivotal role towards enriching this enormous tradition are revered all over Scotland, and for every Scotch lover in the world, this knowledge is gospel. Whether you’re looking for a single malt, single grain or blended whisky, you can filter your search by product or company type. The Braeval distillery was re-opened in 2008, after Pernod Ricard mothballed it in 2002. It was 1827 when George Ballantine laid the foundations of the Ballantine’s brand with his grocery store, eventually realizing the more lucrative prospects of the whisky business. Today, The Glenlivet whisky is considered to be the definitive single malt from the Speyside, carving a formidable niche for itself with an unmatched quality, a rich and vibrant history and the strive for excellence that makes it what it is today. OG. Register to receive a notification when this item comes back in stock. Not only is Chivas Regal one of the world’s oldest Scotch whisky brands, but their source single malt whiskies are also distilled at the Strathisla Distillery, the oldest continuously functioning distillery in Scotland, built in 1786. By 1843, the Chivas Brothers had been granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria and were named ‘the finest purveying business in north Scotland’ by Scotland. With nearly two centuries of an enormous contribution to the Scotch whisky industry, Ballantine’s has been one of the oldest and most formidable brands in history. You have unlocked FREE U.S. With its elegant 18th-century brick buildings and a museum’s worth of antique distilling equipment, it truly captures the spirit of the Highlands in all its glory. The Dalmore is considered to be a brand that only creates the finest scotch whiskeys, and, indeed, only three bottles of the Dalmore 64 Trinitas (1946) were created and released. A wine merchant in Pall Mall, Justerini & Brooks began blending whisky in the 1880s, but the business really took off in the 1930s with the introduction of J&B Rare, a light-coloured and light-bodied blend aimed at the American palate. So what are the top five oldest scotch whisky distilleries? Lagavulin. A peat nose that verges towards coal smoke, with softening vanilla and some citrus. A brand that i do not think exists anymore Mc Callums began in 1807. The one, the only: Lagavulin. There you have it - a rundown of Scotland’s five oldest distilleries, each still producing quality whisky to this day! He welcomed his sons into the business as they made a move into the whisky blending business, developing proprietary blends, acquiring and building distilleries in order to maintain a supply of source whiskies for these blends. The Balvenie. Despite such complications, we’ve managed to put together a list of what. It is truly one of the most remarkable and eternal Scotch whisky brands to have ever existed. In 1986, only 40 bottles were produced. Almost there! Tempting even King George IV himself who requested a dram of The Glenlivet when he visited the country of Scotland, the now iconic single malt brand was the first Speyside distillery to obtain a license to distil whisky. First established all the way back in 1795, the distillery of Oban is a West Highlands company that never fails to deliver when it comes to Olde Worlde vibes and buckets of charm. Back in the day, while the Speyside was dotted with illicit distilleries all over, George Smith too was running an illicit operation of his own. There are some bottles and tastes that can be traced all the way back to the far reaches of Scotland. Age, history, and heritage all play a significant part in the world of fine whisky, with many whisky bottles proudly proclaiming their own mythologies and ancestries on their labels. Johnie Walker began in 1820, Dewar, Buchanan and White Horse all came soon after. Several Scotch whisky distilleries shout about histories which stretch back several centuries, yet record-keeping back in the early 1700s (the time when many distilleries first started churning out barrels of the good stuff) was poor to non-existent, and several distilleries have changed hands, switched locations, and have seen themselves shut down and reopened with the changing of the laws governing the land. While many of the distilleries scattered across Scotland’s wild and wind-beaten lands claim to have a history which reaches back across the centuries, which of them - that are still producing spirits today - can really claim to be the oldest? Established in 1826, the Old Pulteney Distillery was once the northernmost distillery on the Scottish mainland, in the town of Wick.