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Murray's Notes
In 1846, Glen Albyn distillery opened on the banks of the Caledonian Canal in Inverness — one of two distilleries in the Highland capital, alongside Glen Mhor. For nearly 140 years, it produced a Highland malt that was respected but never famous, reliable but never celebrated. Then, in 1983, it closed.
The closure was part of the same wave that killed Brora, Port Ellen, and many others. Diageo's predecessor, United Distillers, decided that Inverness didn't need two distilleries. Glen Mhor went too. Both were demolished. A supermarket now stands on the Glen Albyn site.
Independent bottlings of Glen Albyn surface occasionally — Gordon & MacPhail released a 1975 vintage that showed a malt of genuine quality: medium-bodied, slightly nutty, with a gentle smokiness that suggested the distillery had more to offer than blending ever demanded. The 1975 is the one to find if you can. It's a reminder that 'closed' doesn't mean 'inferior'. Glen Albyn was good whisky that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Glen Albyn operated with two stills, using water from the nearby Loch Ness catchment area. The spirit was a medium-bodied Highland malt with a slightly nutty, gently smoky character. Maturation was primarily in ex-bourbon casks, with Gordon & MacPhail's 1975 vintage demonstrating the benefit of longer ageing. Annual production was modest — estimated at around 1 million litres.
Murray's Pick
Price guide: ~£150-250 at auction
Nutty, gentle smoke, orchard fruit, toffee, medium-long finish
Neat, in a Glencairn — a lost Highland malt worth seeking