When compiling the data for the Periodic Table of Scotch Whisky, founding and (if applicable) closing dates of the distilleries were included. Ordering the list by these dates gives you an interesting by-product, a timeline of distillery openings and closures.
To make it even more interesting, the 71 distilleries listed on Ulf Buxrud’s Lost Distilleries page are included here as well, as is the legendary Malt Mill – all these are presented in different colours. Of course there are still a lot more obscure distilleries, especially on Islay. But data is getting very thin here, so the list will stick to those. All in all it comprises over 200 distilleries.
Please note that some of the early dates are disputed or depend on what you consider the founding of a distillery: the first distillation or the grant of the licence. Also the closing dates for some of the ‘lost’ distilleries are unclear.
You can easily notice the periods of boom and recession that lead to increased opening or closing of whisky distilleries, as well as times of relative quietness. And as devastating the closing spree of the early 1980s may have been, this is nothing compared to the first half of the 20th century. Those were very tough times for the Scotch whisky industry, not only because of US prohibition. Economic troubles started shortly after the blend boom of the late 19th century, and they lasted until well after the Second World War.
But as we all can see, Scotch whisky has survied and is now stronger than ever, with all the consequences currently seen in the business.
1746 | Founded | Glenochil | |||||
… | |||||||
1765 | Founded | Langholm | |||||
1766 | |||||||
1767 | |||||||
1768 | |||||||
1769 | |||||||
1770 | Founded | Dundashill | Yoker | ||||
1771 | |||||||
1772 | Founded | Littlemill | |||||
1773 | |||||||
1774 | |||||||
1775 | Founded | Glenturret | |||||
1776 | |||||||
1777 | |||||||
1778 | |||||||
1779 | Founded | Bowmore | |||||
1780 | |||||||
1781 | |||||||
1782 | |||||||
1783 | |||||||
1784 | |||||||
1785 | |||||||
1786 | Founded | Strathisla | Grange | ||||
1787 | |||||||
1788 | |||||||
1789 | |||||||
1790 | Founded | Balblair | |||||
1791 | |||||||
1792 | |||||||
1793 | Founded | Saucel | |||||
1794 | Founded | Oban | |||||
1795 | Founded | St. Magdalene | Glenfoyle | Glenmavis | Greenock | ||
1796 | Founded | Hazelburn | Kirkliston | ||||
1797 | Founded | Glen Garioch | |||||
1798 | Founded | Blair Athol | Highland Park | Rosebank | Tobermory | ||
1799 | Founded | Carsebrdge | |||||
1800 | |||||||
1801 | |||||||
1802 | |||||||
1803 | |||||||
1804 | |||||||
1805 | |||||||
1806 | Founded | Cambus | |||||
1807 | Founded | Millburn | |||||
1808 | |||||||
1809 | |||||||
1810 | Founded | Glenburgie | Jura | Laphroaig | Ballechin | ||
1811 | |||||||
1812 | Founded | Brackla | Auchnagie | ||||
1813 | Founded | Bo’ness | |||||
1814 | |||||||
1815 | Founded | Ardbeg | Campbeltown | Provanmill | |||
1816 | Founded | Lagavulin | |||||
1817 | Founded | Bladnoch | Teaninich | Pollo | Stromness | ||
1818 | |||||||
1819 | Founded | Brora | |||||
1820 | Founded | North Port | |||||
1821 | Founded | Linkwood | Strathdee | ||||
1822 | |||||||
1823 | Founded | Auchentoshan | Mortlach | ||||
1824 | Founded | Balmenach | Banff | Cardhu | Fettercairn | Glenlivet | Macallan |
Milltonduff | Benachie | Dalaruan | Lochhead | Longrow | Meadowburn | ||
1825 | Founded | Ben Nevis | Edradour | Glencadam | Glenury | Port Ellen | Adelphi |
Burnside | Clydesdale | Grandtully | Rieclachan | Tambovie | |||
1826 | Founded | Aberlour | Benrinnes | Glendronach | Pulteney | ||
1827 | |||||||
1828 | Founded | Springbank | Bankier | ||||
1829 | Founded | Auchtermuchty | Lochindaal | ||||
1830 | Founded | Talisker | Albyn | Annandale | Springside | ||
1831 | Founded | Glenugie | Glendarroch | ||||
1832 | Founded | Glen Scotia | Dalintober | Kintyre | |||
1833 | Founded | Glengoyne | Gleniffer | ||||
1834 | Founded | Glenside | Loch Katrine | ||||
1835 | Founded | Lochruan | |||||
1836 | Founded | Glenfarclas | |||||
1837 | Founded | Glenkinchie | Devanha | ||||
1838 | Founded | Glen Ord | |||||
1839 | Founded | Dalmore | Glentarras | ||||
1840 | Founded | Glen Grant | |||||
1841 | |||||||
1842 | |||||||
1843 | Founded | Glenmorangie | |||||
1844 | Founded | Glen Albyn | Argyll | ||||
1845 | Founded | Lochnagar | Auchtertool | Glenaden | |||
1846 | Founded | Caol Ila | |||||
1847 | |||||||
1848 | |||||||
1849 | Founded | Edinburgh | |||||
1850 | |||||||
1851 | Founded | Isla | |||||
1852 | Founded | Dailuaine | |||||
1853 | |||||||
1854 | |||||||
1855 | Founded | Caledonian | Bon Accord | ||||
1856 | |||||||
1857 | |||||||
1858 | |||||||
1859 | |||||||
1860 | |||||||
1861 | |||||||
1862 | |||||||
1863 | |||||||
1864 | |||||||
1865 | |||||||
1866 | |||||||
1867 | |||||||
1868 | Founded | Benmore | |||||
1869 | Founded | Cragganmore | |||||
1870 | Founded | Inchgower | |||||
1871 | |||||||
1872 | |||||||
1873 | Founded | Glengyle | |||||
1874 | |||||||
1875 | Founded | Glenglassaugh | |||||
1876 | Founded | Glenlossie | |||||
1877 | Founded | Glen Nevis | |||||
1878 | Founded | Glen Spey | Glenrothes | Nevis | |||
1879 | Founded | Ardlussa | Ben Wyvis I | ||||
1880 | |||||||
1881 | Founded | Bruichladdich | Bunnahabhain | Dean | |||
1882 | Closed | Meadowburn | |||||
1883 | Founded | Kinloch | |||||
1884 | |||||||
1885 | Founded | Scapa | |||||
1886 | Founded | Glenfiddich | Gerston | ||||
1887 | |||||||
1888 | |||||||
1889 | |||||||
1890 | |||||||
1891 | Founded | Craigellachie | Strathmill | ||||
1892 | Founded | Balvenie | Glen Mhor | ||||
1893 | Founded | Knockdhu | |||||
1894 | Founded | Convalmore | Longmorn | Parkmore | |||
Closed | Gleniffer | ||||||
1895 | Founded | Speyside I | |||||
1896 | Founded | Aberfeldy | Aultmore | Dufftown | Tamdhu | Ardgovan | Auchinblae |
Drumcaldie | Glenskiach | Towiemore | |||||
Closed | Longrow | ||||||
1897 | Founded | Benriach | Caperdonich | Coleburn | Dalwhinnie | Glen Moray | Glendullan |
Glenesk | Glentauchers | Imperial | Speyburn | Tomatin | Gartloch | ||
Glencoull | |||||||
1898 | Founded | Ardmore | Benromach | Dallas Dhu | Glen Elgin | Glenlochy | Knockando |
Glencawdor | |||||||
1899 | |||||||
~1900 | Closed | Glenochil | |||||
1900 | Founded | Stronarchie | |||||
1901 | |||||||
1902 | Closed | Dundashill | |||||
1903 | Closed | Drumcaldie | Pollo | ||||
1904 | |||||||
1905 | Closed | Glentarras | |||||
1906 | |||||||
1907 | Closed | Adelphi | |||||
Founded | Malt Mill | ||||||
1908 | Closed | Nevis | |||||
1909 | |||||||
1910 | Closed | Glenmavis | Grandtully | ||||
1911 | Closed | Auchnagie | Speyside I | ||||
1912 | |||||||
1913 | Closed | Benachie | Bon Accord | ||||
1914 | Closed | Gerston | Tambovie | ||||
1915 | Closed | Devanha | Glenaden | Greenock | Saucel | ||
1916 | |||||||
1917 | Closed | Langholm | |||||
1918 | |||||||
1919 | Closed | Clydesdale | |||||
1920 | Closed | Albyn | Gartloch | Kintyre | Kirkliston | Loch Katrine | |
1921 | |||||||
1922 | Closed | Dalaruan | Dean | Provanmill | |||
1923 | Closed | Argyll | Glenfoyle | Glen Nevis | |||
1924 | Closed | Ardlussa | Burnside | Campbeltown | |||
1925 | Closed | Bo’ness | Dalintober | Edinburgh | Glengyle | Grange | Hazelburn |
Lochruan | |||||||
1926 | Closed | Auchtermuchty | Ben Wyvis I | Glenside | Glenskiach | Isla | Kinloch |
Springside | |||||||
1927 | Closed | Auchtertool | Ballechin | Benmore | Glencawdor | Glencoull | Yoker |
1928 | Closed | Bankier | Lochhead | Stromness | Stronarchie | ||
1929 | Closed | Auchinblae | Lochindaal | ||||
1930 | Closed | Annandale | Towiemore | ||||
1931 | Closed | Parkmore | |||||
1932 | |||||||
1933 | |||||||
1934 | Closed | Rieclachan | |||||
1935 | |||||||
1936 | |||||||
1937 | Closed | Glendarroch | |||||
1938 | Founded | Inverleven | Dumbarton | ||||
1939 | |||||||
1940 | |||||||
1941 | |||||||
1942 | Closed | Strathdee | |||||
1943 | |||||||
1944 | |||||||
1945 | |||||||
1946 | |||||||
1947 | |||||||
1948 | |||||||
1949 | Founded | Tullibardine | |||||
1950 | |||||||
1951 | |||||||
1952 | Closed | Ardgovan | |||||
1953 | |||||||
1954 | |||||||
1955 | |||||||
1956 | |||||||
1957 | Founded | Glen Keith | Kinclaith | Lochside | Alloa | ||
1958 | Founded | Tormore | |||||
1959 | |||||||
1960 | |||||||
1961 | |||||||
1962 | Founded | Macduff | |||||
Closed | Malt Mill | ||||||
1963 | |||||||
1964 | Founded | Tomintoul | Garnheath | ||||
1965 | Founded |
Ben Wyvis |
Deanston | Loch Lomond | |||
1966 | Founded | Ladyburn | Tamnavulin | ||||
1967 | Founded | Clynelish | Glenallachie | ||||
1968 | |||||||
1969 | |||||||
1970 | |||||||
1971 | Founded | Mannochmore | |||||
1972 | |||||||
1973 | Founded | Braeval | |||||
1974 | Founded | Auchroisk | Glen Flagler | Pittivaich | |||
1975 | Founded | Allt-a-Bhainne | |||||
Closed | Kinclaith | Ladyburn | |||||
1976 | Founded | Speyside | |||||
Closed | Ben Wyvis | ||||||
1977 | |||||||
1978 | |||||||
1979 | |||||||
1980 | Closed | Alloa | |||||
1981 | |||||||
1982 | Closed | North Port | |||||
1983 | Closed | Banff | Brora | Dallas Dhu | Glen Albyn | Glen Mhor | Glenlochy |
Glenugie | Glenury | Port Ellen | St. Magdalene | Carsebridge | |||
1984 | |||||||
1985 | Closed | Coleburn | Convalmore | Glen Flagler | Glenesk | Millburn | |
1986 | Closed | Garnheath | |||||
1987 | |||||||
1988 | Closed | Caledonian | |||||
1989 | |||||||
1990 | Founded | Kininvie | |||||
1991 | Closed | Inverleven | |||||
1992 | Closed | Lochside | |||||
1993 | Founded | Arran | |||||
Closed | Pittivaich | Rosebank | Cambus | ||||
1994 | |||||||
1995 | |||||||
1996 | Closed | Littlemill | |||||
1997 | |||||||
1998 | Closed | Imperial | |||||
1999 | |||||||
2000 | |||||||
2001 | |||||||
2002 | Closed | Caperdonich | Dumbarton | ||||
2003 | |||||||
2004 | Founded | Glengyle | |||||
2005 | Founded | Daftmill | Kilchoman | ||||
2006 | |||||||
2007 | Founded | Ailsa Bay | |||||
2008 | Founded | Abhainn Dearg | |||||
2009 | Founded | Roseisle | |||||
2010 | |||||||
2011 | Founded | Starlaw | |||||
2012 | |||||||
2013 | Founded | Wolfburn |
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
nice!
Great visual aid, Oliver. Thanks.
Looking at the boom-and-bust cycles, it seems that the next period of distilleries closing will be around 2025-2030.
That’s pretty cool Oliver…
Great work!
Hi there,
great piece of work Oliver and it surely did take some time.
I wonder about the gap between 1856 to 1867…. was the market saturated was there a shortage of cash ? Or barley?
I never realised that the wave of distillery closures in the early 20th century was starting long before the war and was in full swing even before the great depression from 1928 on.
If I counted right 77 distilleries closed between 1900 and 1938 – far more than during the crisis which hightened in 1983 with a bang. Of course there was the Pattison crash of 1898 and prohibition in the US big style from 1919 on. Between 1975 and 1998 only 30 distillies closed and I am not sure Littlemill and Imperial should be taken into this account. If you do they Caperdonich and Dumbarton were the last victims of the 1983 crisis.
Nevertheless one could speculate that despite all those closures whisky producing cpacatiy today is at a level never seen before in Sottish whisky making history.
What will this mean for the next crisis at around 2025-2030 if Florin is right?
Greetings
kallaskander
The capacity of most distilleries was quite small by today’s standards, so it is not surprising to see so many of them. The concentration process started after WW1 with the rise of DCL which was to become Diageo. We see the same in beer. In in virtually every German town and even villages there used to be several breweries, once upon a time. The concentration process here is in full swing and not yet completed.
Yes I know – I’m a pain in the a.. – but just a few things.
Don’t take this as complaint to your work, I’m just a bit a–l here..
How long can a distillery be inactive/dismantled and then totally rebuilt before it becomes silly to keep the old starting year?
25 or 50 years or more?
Glenturret (3) started 1959!!
http://www.maltmadness.com/whisky/glenturret.html
Isle of Jura (2) 1963!! Totally new buildings!!
Isle of Jura (1) 1810-1901. Started as Caol’ Nan Eilan, then Small Isles, Craighouse and Jura.
http://www.maltmadness.com/whisky/jura.html
Rosebank was built 1840.
The trail’s are murky, but it seems that some people thinks that Camelon (1798-1861) was the original Rosebank. When the “new Rosebank” was built in 1840 they cut the costs by using the maltings at Cameleon. In 1861 they bought Cameleon. Four years later they replaced the distillery buildings of Camelon with new maltings. The malting were used by Rosebank until 1968(?).
http://www.maltmadness.com/whisky/rosebank.html
Glenlivet started 1858!! As Minmore.
It was built to replace their Upper Drumin (1817-1858) and Delnabo aka Cairngorm (1849-1858) distilleries.
http://www.maltmadness.com/whisky/glenlivet.html
Benrinnes was built 1835. The old Lynne of Ruthrie lay – before the flood destroyed it 1829 – several kilometres away.
http://www.maltmadness.com/whisky/benrinnes.html
Glenburgie 1829, before that no real evidence.
Kinloch started 1823 not 1883.
Glenochil probably produced grain whisky until c1929.
Ardgovan or Ardgowan stopped 1903, 1907 or 1926…
Burned for five days 1903. Continued operation until liquidated 1907. Perhaps only by disposing spirit stock. Went back in production c1914 and made yeast and grain(?) spirit until closure in 1926. Reopened 1929 an made industrial alcohol and carbon dioxide products. Abandoned 1952. (Brian Townsend)
Alloa didn’t start 1957, North of Scotland aka Strathmore did.
I think Keith Wood explains it well……
http://www.whisky-emporium.com/UK/ActualTastingNotes/NorthOfScotland.htm#Alloa40y
Grange (2) 1795-1851 was also known as Alloa. Alloa, Clackmannanshire, NS878928
Ben Nevis started 1825 not 1965.
Glen Flagler started 1965 not 1975.
http://www.maltmadness.com/whisky/glen-flagler.html
Speyside (2) didn’t start 1976 it distilled for the first time 1990.
http://www.maltmadness.com/whisky/speyside-distillery.html
Sorry about the length of the rantings!