It may not be the most attractive whisky-making facility in Scotland, but The Glasgow Distillery is proud of both its process and the results – and has now opened its doors to share that story with the public.
Established in 2014 as Glasgow’s first independent single malt whisky distillery in over a century, the Hillington business has just launched a tour and tasting experience, hosted by expert team members.
Visitors can expect a behind the scenes look at the production of an award-winning range of spirits, including Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Banditti Club Rum, Makar Gin, and G52 Botanical Vodka.
Distillery founder Mike Hayward said: “The Glasgow Distillery Experience is not your average distillery tour. We will be welcoming visitors into the heart of our working distillery.
“It’s a chance for guests to meet our team, understand the passion behind what we do, and enjoy our spirits in the place they’re made.”
The two-hour experience begins in the tasting room, followed by a look into the distillery lab where guests will be given insights into how new products are developed and cask finishes selected for the distillery’s experimental single malt Small Batch Series.
As one of the few remaining distilleries in Scotland with a dedicated on-site cooper, guests will also enjoy a live coopering demonstration, followed by a rare opportunity to sample cask strength single malt whisky drawn straight from the cask.
“From a behind-the-scenes look at our innovation lab to showcasing the expertise of our on-site cooper, this experience offers a rare glimpse into every stage of our spirit-making process,” said Hayward.
The experience concludes in the distillery’s tasting room with a guided tasting of past and present Glasgow 1770 single malt releases, including access to brand-new tours-only exclusive bottlings, alongside a curated selection of gins, vodkas and rums from the wider range.
Hayward described the tours-only bottlings as ‘a revolving door of super exclusive cask samples’.
“The first of these is a 7-year-old, peated single malt, initially matured in virgin American white oak before an extended secondary maturation within a fresh Oloroso Sherry hogshead.”
The visitor experience launch is the latest highlight in a milestone year for The Glasgow Distillery, which marked its inaugural decade of whisky production earlier in the Spring with the release of its first 10-year-old whisky, a commemorative bottling that sold out in under 20 minutes.
