The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
Ancient, water-powered distillery machinery at Kilbeggan
(Credit: Richard Thomas)
Whiskey has been made throughout Britain and Ireland for hundreds of years. There’s nothing we love more than sitting down with an aged glass of whiskey from one of our many historic distilleries and enjoying its unique taste. If you are both a whiskey aficionado and an avid traveller, we have the perfect list for you of the oldest whiskey distilleries steeped in history. Check them out!
Strathisla Distillery, Scotland
The creator of one of the most famous whiskeys around the world, Chivas Regal, the Strathisla Distillery is located in Morayshire, Scotland. It was originally founded as the Milltown Distillery by Alexander Milne and George Taylor back in 1786. The distillery changed hands several times before suffering from a terrible fire in 1879. It was rebuilt with a bottling plant, making it an even more attractive business. The last time it changed hands was when James Barclay of the Chivas Bros acquired it in 1950. The whiskey is often described as having a “distinctive mellow honey flavour which offers a full, nutty, balanced whiskey”.
Kilbeggan Distillery, Republic of Ireland
Founded 30 years earlier was the Kilbeggan Distillery, situated in the town of Kilbeggan in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is a small pot distillery, and similar to the Strathisla Distillery, it has a storied history behind it. 84 years after it first opened, it was put up for sale by then-owners William Codd and William Cuffee. It was taken over by John Locke in 1843, suffered boiler breakdowns and a fire in 1878, and was forced to stop production between 1924 and 1931 due to declining business. It wouldn’t be the first time it would shut down, as it would close its doors again in 1957 before reopening 50 years later as the distillery we know today. There are plenty of Kilbeggan whiskeys to choose from, but the single grain has a deep, smooth flavour that’s ideal for mixing.
Penderyn Distillery – Wales
Just across the Irish Sea, you have the Penderyn Distillery in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It’s said that Wales first distilled whiskey back in the Middle Ages, though there isn’t much to confirm that. We do know that the first recorded commercial distillation occurred in 1705, led by a man called Evan Williams, who later emigrated to America to become one of the forefathers of Kentucky whiskey. Penderyn has a range of single malt whiskeys to try, with different finishes to suit different tastes.
Old Bushmills Distillery, Northern Ireland
There’s a bit of dispute about the founding date amongst fans of this brand; officially, it was founded in 1784 as the Old Bushmills Distillery, but a licence was granted by James I to distil whiskey back in 1608. Going back even further, there are stories as far back as 1276 that whiskey was distilled in this region, so it’s about as rich a history as you could wish for! Located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, it’s famous for its malt whiskeys. They’re often described as having a rich, creamy palate with a malty finish.
Glenturret Distillery, Scotland
We finish our list back where we started, up in the Scottish highlands. The Glenturret Distillery was founded in Perthshire in 1763 on the banks of the Turret River. While it was officially established in 1763, it had been under the control of black market whiskey makers since 1717, who had fled north to avoid paying taxes. This history has led some people to claim that Glenturret is the oldest distillery in Scotland! Glenturret’s signature whiskey is a single malt scotch whiskey, with warm spice and ginger flavours, with notes of vanilla and citrus.
Conclusion
As you can see, whiskey is a deep part of British and European history, with the earliest stories of whiskey making dating back nearly 800 years! It’s no surprise that we’ve produced some of the world’s best whiskeys with this much practice. And if you do embark on a journey to visit these disteilleries, don’t forget to wind during your travels, maybe by trying out some online games by united remote at an online casino. We hope this list hepls you find that one shot of whiskey you won’t forget!
