An online resource for Glen Mhor Distillery, the people and its whisky.
Operating as usual
In our last update of 2022, we saved a cracking Logbook entry from 14th April 1939, which details a sizeable accident at Glen Mhor and the process of investigation from Customs & Excise. This in turn, leads us to speculate on those involved and the new manager at Glen Mhor.
Thanks for your support and we'll see you in 2023!
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/12/glen-mhor-log-book-14th-april-1939.html
1909 and Glen Mhor features in a local listing of companies willing to help employees train for the forces. Worth comparing against the Glen Albyn entry in the same listing...
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/12/recruiting-for-territorial-force-1909.html
The latest logbook 1939 entry highlights the link between the Caledonian Canal and production.
It also allows me to reveal both Glen Albyn and Glen Mhor shared the same water source and pipe.
Glen Mhor Whisky Distillery
Another milestone for John Birnie...
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/12/john-birnie-golden-wedding.html
The latest logbook entry takes us to the 12th December 1938 and an accident in the fermentation room at Glen Mhor.
This event also confirms the presence of the mysterious 7th washback that we've been searching for details of. While the logbook doesn't confirm when it was installed, the page confirms it was being used in 1938, which is a great find.
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/12/glen-mhor-log-book-12th-december-1938.html
The Glen Mhor Edinburgh tasting has sold out, thanks to everyone. We’ll have a reserve list just in case.
Glen Mhor Whisky Distillery
Glen Mhor Tasting Edinburgh 8th March. Contact Jolly Toper Whisky Tastings to book a place
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/12/glen-mhor-tasting-edinburgh-8th-march.html
Also this bottle will be in the lineup
The Edinburgh tasting is revealed tomorrow at 9am and for followers of this page a wee sneak preview as this bottle will be in the lineup…
1895 Stillman wanted at Glen Mhor.
An illustration in how a simple advert can inspire my thinking.
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/12/stillman-wanted-october-1895.html
It’s happening…
An opportunity to try 5 Glen Mhor whiskies and some chat.
A new page in the logbook takes us to the 23rd November 1938 and work that's required on the newer of the 3 stills.
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/12/glen-mhor-log-book-23rd-november-1938.html
I’m fairly confident I have Robbie Robertson’s successor as distillery manager in 1937 now identified. More details in a future article.
All the details count however small they might seem at the time.
Glen Mhor Whisky Distillery
Details of our Glen Mhor tasting in Edinburgh will be revealed soon.
Six drams of Glen Mhor for well under £100. Let’s go crazy like it’s 1983 again.
The next page from the Glen Mhor logbook is a mundane silent season repair request. This is the work and must be recorded.
Who knows what the next page might contain?
Glen Mhor Whisky Distillery
January 1968 and while sales of Scotch soar, William Birnie warns the industry about the future.
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/11/exports-of-scotch-soar.html
A new page in the distillery logbook which confirms that the original low wines still was mothballed when the 3rd still was installed in the 1920s.
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/11/glen-mhor-log-book-26th-january-1938.html
We take a closer look at the 1949 match footage and what we can see of Glen Mhor.
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/11/glen-mhor-footage-5th-november-1949.html
The third of three snippets from the 1949 Am Baile video of a Caledonia match - you can see the back of the Glen Mhor warehouses in these.
Whisky matured to the sound of football chants?
Two of theee snippets from the 1949 Am Baile video of a Caledonia match - you can see the back of the Glen Mhor warehouses in these.
Whisky matured to the sound of football chants?
One of snippets from the 1949 Am Baile video of a Caledonia match - you can see the back of the Glen Mhor warehouses in these.
Whisky matured to the sound of football chants?
1904, Glen Mhor, and the 'alarming canal incident' that prompted flooding at the distillery.
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/11/alarming-canal-incident-1904.html
Published in the Aberdeen Press & Journal 15th January 1972, this brief article is a fascinating insight into William Birnie's work, but also reads as his swansong as later in 1972, both Glen Albyn and Glen Mhor would be sold to the Distillers Company Limited.
The business of distilling was reaching breaking point as the article suggests, Glen Mhor was struggling to obtain orders for filling and competition was fierce.
'Surely there must be a breaking point some day?'
'Anyway, it is considered we are over-producing, although others, who know more about the world's future potentialities, think otherwise.'
This statement is interesting, as we know Willie had been warning about overproduction since the mid-1960s, while others (including D.C.L.) were expanding existing and building new distilleries. William's view was seen to be at odds with the industry forecasters, despite his unique combination of statistical analysis and industry experience - the latter taking insight beyond a spreadsheet.
'If we look back six or seven years, it will be seen that we distilled about 134,000,000 original proof gallons - over 40,000,000 original proof gallons than the world is consuming today.'
His question is simply who is going to consume this excess? Some will be sitting on shelves, but the majority of these spare resource will be sitting in warehouses across Scotland with nowhere to go. Eventually, pressure will grow and something has to give in the end. This was the era of whisky drinking, as opposed to today's focus on collecting and investment.
'but, I can't see us making up that 50,000,000 gallons a year in the future... production should be stepped down.'
This was the only sensible precaution to avert disaster before matters were taken out of the hands of the major producers, who continued to produce on excessive scale. It was this focus that prompted so many distilleries across Scotland in the hands of corporations in the late 1970s to reduce to part-time production, then followed by closure in the 1980s.
While many of these distilleries may have closed eventually due their ancient nature and value of the land they resided upon, it seems sensible that several could have endured and prospered in the new age of single malt appreciation.
Mr Birnie has been compiling his statistical analysis for the whisky trade since 1939, spending four months each year amassing facts.
This final paragraph underlines the effort that William put into his work annually and its duration. Debuting in 1939, if this is to be believed, we have the inaugural edition of his statistical analysis on this website. With a further edition from 1946 and hopefully through our continued research, more editions can be identified and brought into the public domain as part of our efforts.
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/11/breaking-point-for-whisky.html
We’re delighted to publish a previously unreleased interview with William Birnie from July 1953. He discusses the character that defines scotch and also highland distilleries.
Nearly 70 years after it was complied, it’s great to finally see this in the public domain. The purpose of the interview remains a mystery, but we love a challenge on this project.
My thanks to Alan Wi******er for this find.
Glen Mhor Whisky Distillery
The latest edition of the Malt Whisky Yearbook has a page on Glen Mhor, I take a closer look at it...
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/11/malt-whisky-yearbook-2023-glen-mhor.html
News that the maltings at both Glen Mhor and Glen Albyn were to close as published in 1980. We know from existing research, that the last 3 years for both distilleries, both relied on malt delivered by lorry from a more central maltings in the S.M.D. arsenal.
This was a common move across the industry and one that remains in place today, although interestingly, some distilleries are making moves now to reassess the character of having their own maltings on site.
We know from an unpublished William Birnie interview in 1953, that in total, both distilleries employed 26 men. The large proportion of these would have been engaged with operating the maltings which was the most labour-intensive aspect of production. Effectively, removing just over 50% of the workforce from Glen Mhor and Glen Albyn.
Our Saladin Box research in 1949 highlighted the labour aspect and potential costs of building a new malting floor, which would have entailed hiring a completely new team at Glen Mhor, comprising of 9 men including night shifts. So, the existing malt team at Glen Mhor would have been around 9 in total, and with the introduction of the Saladin Boxes, this was believed to have been reduced to 3 men to operate the machinery. At Glen Albyn, the numbers would have been larger because the maltings were of a bigger scale. Glen Mhor always had an issue that it could not produce enough malt to meet its production demands and Glen Albyn effectively filled in those gaps as and when.
While the men were offered roles elsewhere, these may have been short-lived with the forthcoming closures across the industry in 1983. As noted, several decided to retire, and this may explain another news article from 5th November 1980 which underlines a trio retiring...
Featuring two maltmen, there is a talent drain evident at both distilleries which would have been previously seen as a longstanding career. Hopefully, Kenneth and both Williams enjoyed their retirement and if there are any family relatives, please get in touch.
As for the maltings, these buildings would fall idle once and for all, before being demolished later in 1986.
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/10/distillers-to-close-glen-mhor-maltings.html
We're still in January 1938 for our latest logbook discovery. You can see and read about all the existing pages on the dedicated list that we've compiled so far. This is fast becoming a rich stream of untapped information, offering us new insight into the internal workings and issues within Glen Mhor.
Leaks seem to be a common theme and a concern for the Excise officer; especially if they are not due to natural forces. So far, we don't have any record of workers prompting such losses although I have been told of tales towards the end of the lifespan of the distillery, workers helping themselves to cases of Glen Mhor at the back of the facility and eagerly putting them onto a canal boat.
Fortunately, this particular leak falls into the wear and tear category...
'Sir
I have to report that the percentage of the best change over the attenuation change for the week ending Y.1.31 (15th Period) was only 07.7% instead of a normal 11/13%.
On attempting to obtain a sample from the Spent Lees Receiver No.2 I found that the vessels had been leaking and was practically empty. The distillers attention was called to the fact that it should be fixed without delay.
The stills were filled with water and leakage found in No.2 Low Wines Still at the joint of the discharge pipe and still. I am satisfied that the leakage was sufficient to cause the low percentage and none of the spirit went into consumption.
The joint has now been heavily soldered and securely soldered on the inside and the spent lees receiver is at present in the process of refrain.
Respectfully, G. Stenhouse, officer.'
Margin entry - 'Surveyor states that the Collector has advised that no report is necessary where the Surveyor is satisfied that the cause of the loss accounts for the shortage.'
We've touched upon the attenuation measurement system in a prior log book entry, which is:
the measurement of the decrease in specific gravity of worts over the course of fermentation.. Eg. if the original gravity, taken just after the filling the washback, was 1.055 and the final gravity taken at the end of the fermentation was 0.998, then the attenuation would be said to be 57 degrees. For every 100 litres of wort attenuating through 8 degree, approximately 1 litre of alcohol should be produced.
This Log Book comes from the Highland Archives Centre (HCA/D31/4/1/25) and is watermarked for its protection. As with any images on this website, please ask first before using and always give credit. My thanks to the Centre for their assistance.
To put this entry into context, I reached out again to Alan Wi******er for his valued insight:
'The attenuation tells that there's been a bit of a loss, as the Customs and Distillery staff prepared the records, they would have been aware together, that things were poor.
Filling the stills with water would indicate the leak quite quickly, the leak may have required brickwork to be removed to find the leak, if not easily seen.
Interesting, he mentions the leaking spent lees tank, to obtain a sample to check, that may have resulted in a letter to the company from the Excise, though Surveyor was not requiring a report, as you can see its where the loss had been to, was concerning the Officer. The officer appears quite diligent.'
The Exciseman is certainly thorough and convinced that there was nothing untoward with the sudden change in figures. My thanks to Alan, and here's to the next page, coming soon.
Glen Mhor distillery leak
When it comes to the fate of Glen Mhor, most publications only go so far as to state it was demolished for a supermarket and associated car park. Nothing more, nothing less.
The reality is somewhat very different, although that was the final outcome. In fact, there was a great deal of debate about what to do with the redundant site and challenges to the supermarket plans. As shown in this Aberdeen Press & Journal article from 6th August 1985. We'll be discussing these stages in subsequent newspaper articles and trying to shed some light on other suggestions for the distillery - I've been told it was mooted to have the area as a historical tourist site, which sadly never came to fruition.
In 1985, the debate ramps up a notch as if demolished, this really opens up the avenues for developers and what they can look to achieve. The Trafford Avenue Residents' Association are quoted in this update:
'We had hoped that the company (the developers) would amend their planning application following meeting with them, when we outlined our reasons for objection. They say they cannot meet our wishes so we must sit down and finalise our grounds of objection.'
The principal objections listed are increased traffic and noise levels. A visit to the area today will confirm just how busy this section of the city is, the noise because of it and that the infrastructure just isn't there to cope with the volume as laid down following the development of the area in the 1980s.
Glen Mhor site protests
Stepping into October, we have our latest entry in our deciphering of the Glen Mhor log book. Each page has been unseen for generations and through our research and investigation, these entries are being brought into the digital age with added insight.
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/10/glen-mhor-log-book-13-october-1937.html
So far in our restoration, we've had everything from leaks to faulty valves and silent season requests; all of which are listed on our specific log book page. What each entry holds is unknown until we turn the page and start the work. This entry from October 1937, does hold a surprise and new piece of detail that's been hidden from history, until now.
Let's begin with the transcription itself...
'13 October 1937
Sir
I beg to forward a request from Messrs Mackinlays & Birnie for removing the stock casks in the Spirit Stores of Glen Mhor and Glen Albyn Distilleries to the Duty Free Warehouses leaving the Spirit Stores open, in order that new weighing machines may be installed. The changing locks and other locks of the Spirit Vats would be locked on close fastenings
I understand that the dates, which are not specified in the request, would be Sat., 23rd Oct., 1937 and Mon to Wed, 25th to 27th Oct., for the one distillery and Sat., 30th Oct., 1937 and Mon to Wed, 1st to 3rd Nov, 1937 for the other.
I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Black, Officer.
The Collector Inverness.'
It is worth placing this entry in our Timeline, not for matters of the distillery, but the sad news that befell the site in October 1937. Robbie Robertson, the distillery manager for over 40 years had passed away on site just the day prior to this request being recorded. It shows that business continued as normally as it could, and this may have been one of his last - or the last - request he made to the Customs and Excise representative.
The entry makes reference to new weighing machines, these were replacing the original versions, which would have been installed in the 1890s, when the distillery was founded. We've found no evidence (so far) that any investment in new weighing machines took place any earlier. This is fantastic detail and a new entry for our Distillery Info page and comprehensive Timeline feature.
Then, you sit down and consider where this fit into what we know, and do we have any other evidence that underlines this finding? The answer is yes, as in the background of this image from A.D. Cameron's book on the Caledonian Canal, taken in 1959.
You'll see the weighing machine in the background by chance, in operation with a younger member of the team. A common site at most distilleries and many of these machines (albeit relics now) are still in situ at some distilleries, marking a bygone age. We also have the confirmation that upgrades were taking place on a uniform basis across both distilleries on Telford Street. This is not a surprise, given the potential cost savings and having the work done side-by-side, it makes perfect sense.
We'll add this to our Glen Albyn research project and hope to make further discoveries across both sites as we explore this Log Book and that of Glen Albyn in due course.
As for the Customs representative, this looks like a short placement, which is unfortunate, as by 1938, there is no mention of a Black working in Inverness for the Excise. His handwriting is certainly easier to follow, so his presence is a loss to our project. There is a D.Black noted to a be working for the Inland Revenue in 1938, living at 7 Ardross Place, which I wouldn't immediately link, as there's a consistency in excisemen being noted as such in this directory. Although his home isn't too far from Glen Mhor. The 1937 Directory does not list a Black either in an excise role specifically, or an employee of the Inland Revenue.
This Log Book comes from the Highland Archives Centre (HCA/D31/4/1/25) and is watermarked for its protection. As with any images on this website, please ask first before using and always give credit. My thanks to the Centre for their assistance.
There's no better proof of what barley type a distillery was using than appearing in an advert for the said grain across multiple years.
The advertisement is below and appeared in the Aberdeen Press & Journal on 12th December 1968 and 16th January 1969. names mentioned include William Grant & Sons, Highland Distillers and Scottish Malt Distillers. Underlying its widespread use and also included on this list are Mackinlays & Birnie Limited, meaning that Glen Albyn and Glen Mhor were following suit.
Also, we can take note that when D.C.L. purchase both distillers in 1972 and Scottish Malt Distillers ran the sites, the type of malt would have been consistent.
Golden Promise has passed into the history books nowadays, replaced by more efficient strains of grain; such is the way of things in this sector. Yet it is fondly remembered by many enthusiasts, arguably playing a role during a classic period of Scotch whisky. Its appeal is universal as the (now closed) Japanese distillery, Karuizawa, only used Golden Promise.
Playing a role in its replacement was the concern that Golden Promise was cancerogenic, but as Francis at Daftmill distillery commented to me; you'd had to drink a considerable amount to increase your cancer risk and that quantity, it'd be the alcohol that would kill you.
From a practical standpoint, Golden Promise matured early, had very good yields at the time and wasn't the tallest of grains in the field, adding some level of protection. Yet, whisky as well as beer isn't just about the practicalities, as Golden Promise offered flavour and texture that many modern grains have lacked - or been deficient in - since. That's what is ushering in a new era of reflection and discovery, with a cult-like following from brewing ensuring that any maltsters who can stock Golden Promise, will have demand for it.
How much of a key component is the grain in this fondly remembered era? It is outside our own research function, but it might play a part when we come to tasting whiskies from around this time. It endured as the mainstay of fields until the 1980s, which is impressive as varieties of malt come and go more quickly nowadays.
For more information on Golden Promise, I'd suggest reading this article from Simpson's Malt.
https://www.glenmhorwhisky.com/2022/10/glen-mhor-golden-promise.html
Telford Street
Inverness
IV35LD
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