Glenugie Distillery: The History

Two separate distilleries carried the Glenugie name. The first operated at Longside from around 1830 until the early 1850s. More than twenty years later a completely new distillery was built at Invernettie near Peterhead in 1874, which later became the Glenugie known to whisky collectors today.

Early Beginnings at Longside (c.1830–1859)

The earliest known references to Glenugie appear around 1830 at a small distillery in Longside operated by Donald McLeod & Co. Records from 1846 note that the distillery had already been running for nearly twenty years, suggesting production began around the start of the 1830s.

Production during the early years was modest but recorded in excise returns. In 1831 the distillery produced 6,280 imperial proof gallons of malt spirit, rising to 6,906 gallons in 1832 and 7,080 gallons in 1833. Shortly afterwards Donald McLeod withdrew as a partner in the business but remained employed as the distiller.

By the mid-1830s output had declined sharply. Production in 1834 dropped to 3,402 gallons, and McLeod himself left the distillery entirely in 1836. Records suggest the company struggled to find a replacement distiller and operations became uncertain.

Throughout the 1840s the distillery appeared intermittently in records. In 1841 the site was advertised for sale, with equipment listed as a wash still of around 546 litres (120 gallons) and a smaller low-wines still of roughly 227 litres (50 gallons). The distillery remained unsold into 1842.

By 1844 a new distiller, William Noble, was operating in Longside and was later recorded as working at Glenugie. Yet the enterprise never fully recovered. It was advertised to let in 1850 and still appeared in the official return of licensed distillers in 1851.

Excise officers were still recorded in Longside in 1853, suggesting the distillery may have been operating at that time, though confirmation is uncertain. By 1854 it was already referred to as the “old Glenugie distillery,” and by 1858 the buildings were reported to be falling into decay. Within a few years the premises were converted into a sawmill, which continued operating long after the distillery disappeared.

The Invernettie Site and the Birth of Glenugie (1874–1879)

The story of Glenugie as it is best remembered begins several miles away at Invernettie, near Peterhead. A mill had stood on the site since at least 1839, but in 1874 Aberdeen solicitor George Whyte purchased twenty-eight acres of land there for £2,250.

Whyte established the Scottish Highland Distillery Company Ltd with the aim of building a new distillery. Seven thousand shares were offered to investors, though only a portion were taken up. Despite the cautious start, construction proceeded quickly and the new distillery began producing spirit in 1875.

The enterprise faced immediate difficulties. Disputes over water supply began soon after production started and financial pressures mounted. By 1877 the company had effectively leased the distillery back to Whyte himself, trading as George Whyte & Co.

The situation deteriorated further and in 1879 the shareholders moved to wind up the company. Legal battles and mounting debts followed, culminating in bankruptcy proceedings against Whyte in 1882.

The Forbes Era and the Rise of Glenugie (1883–1915)

In 1883 the distillery entered a new chapter when Simon Forbes acquired the property and renamed it Glenugie Distillery. Production resumed in December that year and the distillery began to establish a reputation for reliable output.

When whisky writer Alfred Barnard visited in 1885 he reported annual production of roughly 90,000 gallons, though the distillery had capacity to produce considerably more.

During the late nineteenth century Glenugie expanded steadily. A large warehouse was built in 1889, and additional bonded storage followed in the mid-1890s. The distillery’s whisky was already being sold commercially by the early 1890s, including five-year-old expressions advertised locally.

One of the most colourful episodes in Glenugie’s history occurred in 1893 during a dispute over water rights with Peterhead Town Council. The council constructed a dam on the Wellington Burn, a key water source for the distillery. During a dry summer distillery workers repeatedly dismantled the dam while council labourers rebuilt and guarded it. This “battle of Wellington Burn” continued for more than two months before the dispute was eventually settled in court in Forbes’ favour.

The period was not without incident. A fire broke out in 1898 after overheated machinery ignited malt within an elevator, damaging the roof. The blaze was extinguished within an hour, causing relatively minor losses.

Despite occasional setbacks, Glenugie prospered under Forbes’ ownership and survived the turmoil of the Pattison whisky crash of the late nineteenth century. Production continued into the early twentieth century until the disruption of the First World War.

War, Silence, and Uncertain Years (1915–1937)

The First World War brought production at Glenugie to a halt. Although Simon Forbes remained the registered owner until around 1920, the distillery struggled to return to normal operation in the difficult years that followed.

Edward Young & Co purchased the distillery in 1920 and established Glenugie Distillery Ltd the following year. Although the plant had a theoretical capacity of nearly 200,000 proof gallons per year, production appears to have been minimal during the 1920s. Warehouses were largely used for storing whisky rather than distilling new spirit.

Attempts to revive production in the early 1920s proved short-lived and by the mid-1920s the distillery again fell silent.

Revival and Modernisation (1937–1960s)

Glenugie’s fortunes improved in 1937 when Seager Evans & Co Ltd acquired the distillery and restarted production. The whisky produced there was primarily destined for the company’s Long John blend.

A major transformation followed in 1956 when Seager Evans became part of the American-owned Schenley Industries group. Substantial investment modernised the distillery. Coal-fired boilers were replaced with oil-fired systems, new stills were installed, and modern condensers replaced the traditional worm tubs.

Water was piped from Wellington Spring several miles away, and production capacity was effectively doubled. By the early 1960s on-site malting was discontinued and the maltings were converted into bonded warehouses. Eventually nine warehouses stood on the site with capacity to store around 1.5 million gallons of maturing spirit.

The distillery also briefly promoted itself as a visitor attraction during the early 1960s, complete with landscaped grounds and even Highland cattle grazing nearby.

Peak Production and Later Ownership (1960s–1970s)

During the 1960s Glenugie was operating at strong levels of production. Much of its whisky was transported to Strathclyde for blending into Long John whisky.

Facilities expanded with the construction of additional warehouses and a cooperage, and the distillery typically filled around 8,000 gallons of spirit each week.

In 1975 the Long John group was acquired by the British brewing company Whitbread & Co Ltd, bringing Glenugie under new corporate ownership during a time when the Scotch whisky industry was entering a difficult period.

The Whisky Loch and Closure (1980–1983)

The global downturn in whisky demand during the early 1980s, often referred to as the whisky loch, forced many distilleries to close. Glenugie was among them.

Production ceased in 1982 and the closure was reported in the Press and Journal early that year. Whitbread formally closed the distillery soon afterwards, ending more than a century of whisky production at Invernettie.

Aftermath and Legacy

Unlike some distilleries that were mothballed in hope of revival, Glenugie was dismantled within a few years. In 1984 the site was divided and sold to industrial companies including Score UK and Jason Metals.

Today the Score Group headquarters occupies much of the former distillery grounds. Although most of the original buildings have disappeared, a few warehouses built in later years still survive nearby, quiet reminders of a once-busy distillery.

The whisky itself lives on in rare surviving bottles. Independent bottlings from Glenugie remain highly sought after, offering a taste of a distillery whose spirit once matured beside the windswept shores of the North Sea.

Origins at Longside (c.1830 – 1859)

c.1830

The earliest references to distilling at Longside appear around this period. By 1846 records state the distillery had already been operating for nearly twenty years, suggesting a start date around 1830 or slightly earlier. The operation was owned by Donald McLeod & Co., who entered into a Contract of Copartnery to expand the business.

1831

Production recorded at 6,280 imperial proof gallons of malt spirit.

1832

Production increased to 6,906 gallons.

1833

Production reached 7,080 gallons. Donald McLeod ceased to be a partner in the company but continued working as the distiller.

1834

Output dropped to 3,402 gallons.

1836

Donald McLeod left the distillery entirely.

1837

Records suggest the distillery may have struggled to find a replacement distiller, indicating operational difficulties.

1841–1842

The distillery was advertised for sale. Equipment listed included a low wines still of approximately 227 litres (50 gallons) and a wash still of approximately 546 litres (120 gallons). Despite the listing, it remained unsold through 1842.

1844

William Noble was registered as a distiller in Longside and is believed to have taken over operations at Glenugie.

1846

Records confirm Noble was working as the distiller at Glenugie.

1847

A theft occurred at the distillery involving two hydrometers and a saccharometer belonging to Excise officer Mr J. Mitchell.

1850

The distillery was advertised to let, suggesting declining commercial viability.

1851

Still listed among licensed distillers in parliamentary returns.

1853

Excise officers were still registered in Longside, suggesting the distillery may have continued operating until this point, though confirmation is unclear.

1854

The site is referred to in records as the “old Glenugie distillery”, indicating production had ceased.

Mid-1850s

The former distillery buildings were briefly converted into a brewery.

1858

The buildings were reported to be “fast falling into decay.”

1859

The site was converted again, this time into a sawmill, which continues operating today near the original distillery location.

1859

The former distillery was converted into a sawmill, which remarkably continues in operation today, though slightly relocated from the original distillery footprint.

The Invernettie / Glenugie Distillery(Peterhead) — 1874–1982

Pre-1874

A mill existed at Invernettie since at least 1839, providing the site for the future distillery.

1874

Aberdeen solicitor George Whyte purchased 28 acres of land and the Invernettie mill for £2,250 and established the Scottish Highland Distillery Company Ltd to build a new distillery. Seven thousand shares were offered at £5 each, with 1,522 shares subscribed at £3 10s. The first shareholder meeting estimated production would begin by October 1874.

1875

Distillation began and draff (spent grain) was advertised for sale.

1876–1877

The distillery entered a long dispute over water rights with neighbouring landowners.

1877

Financial troubles forced the company to lease the distillery to George Whyte & Co. for £500 per year.

1879

Shareholders forced the liquidation of the Scottish Highland Distillery Company after Whyte gradually acquired most of the shares.

1882

Bankruptcy proceedings were initiated against George Whyte & Co. by creditor Adam Henderson. Debts were recorded at £23,383. The distillery was placed on the market with an initial price of £5,000 and a production capacity of up to 2,800 gallons per week.

The Forbes Era (1883 – Early 20th Century)

1883

The property was purchased by the Northern Heritable Securities Investment Company Ltd and subsequently sold to Simon Forbes, who took over operations in December 1883. He renamed the distillery Glenugie and restarted production.

1885

Whisky writer Alfred Barnard visited the distillery and recorded output of around 90,000 gallons annually, with capacity to increase if required.

1886

Simon Forbes purchased the entire 28-acre estate outright.

1887

The Admiralty compulsorily purchased part of the land to build a railway from Stirlinghill Quarry to Peterhead Harbour of Refuge, paying £1,135 2s 9d.

1889

Construction of a large warehouse measuring approximately 100 ft by 60 ft.

1892

A five-year-old Glenugie whisky was advertised for sale.

The Battle of Wellington Burn

1893

A major dispute arose between the distillery and Peterhead Town Council over water rights from the Wellington Burn. The council constructed a dam, which distillery workers repeatedly destroyed during a dry summer while council labourers rebuilt and guarded it. The confrontation lasted more than two months before the matter reached the courts, where Simon Forbes ultimately won the case.

Late Victorian Operations

1895

A new bonded warehouse was constructed.

1896

Distillery manager A. Rae died, and his replacement George Duncan was seriously injured in machinery shortly afterwards.

1898

A fire broke out when an overheated elevator ignited malt, causing damage estimated at £200. Glenugie whisky was sold in Edinburgh that same year. A complicated failed sale triggered court cases involving John Hay Thorburn and Alexander Dempster, with litigation continuing until 1900.

1899

Glenugie whisky became linked to the financial scandal known as the Pattison Crash.

Early 20th Century

1900

A temporary agreement allowed the Peterhead Water Commission to access water at Grange Moss in exchange for supplying water to cottages at Glenugie.

1903

A serious accident occurred when a three-year-old child fell from a loft at the distillery.

1907–1908

Some distillery casks were used for transporting water and sold the following year.

1915

Simon Forbes was still listed as owner. Production slowed and eventually stopped during the First World War.

Edward Young Ownership (1920 – 1937)

1920

The distillery was sold to Edward Young & Co. with a capacity of around 200,000 proof gallons annually. The whisky was described as quick maturing.

1921

Registered as Glenugie Distillery Ltd with share capital of £33,000.

1920s

Production appears to have ceased, with warehouses used mainly for whisky storage due to poor market conditions.

1923

James Eadie recorded technical details including a 9,000 gallon wash charge, a wash still of 5,350 gallons, a spirit still of 2,860 gallons, and warehouse capacity of around 3,000 casks.

1925–1937

The distillery remained largely silent.

Revival and Expansion

1937

Seager Evans & Co. Ltd purchased the distillery and restarted production. Significant quantities of whisky had remained stored onsite.

Modernisation Under Schenley

1956

Seager Evans was acquired by Schenley Industries of the United States. Major modernisation followed including a new oil-fired boiler, new condensers replacing worm tubs, two new stills, and water piped from Wellington Spring several miles away. Production capacity doubled.

1960

Manager Edward “Ted” Henderson left to become the first manager of Tormore Distillery.

1962

Manager William Allan promoted Glenugie as a tourist attraction, landscaping the site and keeping Highland cattle.

1963

On-site malting ceased and the maltings were converted into bonded warehouses. Eventually nine warehouses held around 1.5 million gallons of whisky.

Peak Production

1966

Output reached 356,988 gallons under manager A. J. Auchinachie. Most Glenugie spirit was shipped to Strathclyde Distillery for blending into the Long John whisky brand.

1967

A new cooperage and improved staff facilities were built. Operations included filling three days per week, producing around 8,000 gallons weekly, and dispatching about 300 casks each month.

Ownership Changes and Decline

1972

A housing development near the distillery was refused planning permission to preserve the site for industrial use.

1974

Part of the distillery land was compulsorily purchased to build the Peterhead Harbour access road.

1975

Whitbread & Co. purchased Long John International for £18.5 million, bringing Glenugie under their ownership.

1976–1977

Two oil spill incidents occurred involving heating fuel for the boilers. In 1977 the distillery received an off-sales licence allowing visitors to purchase whisky.

Closure

1980

Glenugie was mothballed during the early-1980s whisky downturn.

February 1982

Closure was reported in the Press & Journal.

1983

Whitbread officially closed Glenugie Distillery. The final manager was Sandy Auchinachie, who later moved to Tormore Distillery.

Aftermath

1984

The site was sold and divided between Score UK and Jason Metals.

1994

When Score launched a 180,000 sq ft warehouse facility, attendees were given bottles of Glenugie whisky to mark the occasion.

2018

Remaining distillery structures were reported demolished, though some warehouses still survive.

Present Day

The site of Glenugie Distillery is now home to the Score Group plc headquarters in Peterhead. Although the distillery itself has vanished, the name Glenugie survives through rare surviving bottlings and the continued interest of whisky enthusiasts and collectors.

Perched close to Scotland’s rugged east coast near Peterhead, Glenugie distilled spirit within sight of the North Sea for more than a century and a half – though not always continuously. Once among the most easterly distilleries in Scotland, it stood where barley fields met sea air and granite. Though the distillery itself has largely disappeared, Glenugie survives in the memories of collectors, in rare surviving bottles, and in the history of Aberdeenshire’s whisky industry.

What Makes Glenugie Special?