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A claimant to being the oldest distillery in Scotland (see also Littlemill and Strathisla) it is without question one of the smallest. There are records of a distillery in the neighbourhood at least as early as 1717 and some of the buildings on the present site date from 1775. The distillery itself was dismantled in the 1920s then revived in 1959 by a noted whisky enthusiast James Fairlie. His objective was to preserve malt distilling on a craft scale in a way that could be seen and appreciated by visitors. The Fairlie family still runs the distillery, though it was acquired in 1981 by Cointreau. The French liqueur company, along with Remy-Martin Cognac subsequently established links with Highland Distillers. As a result, Glenturret passed to Highland Distillers in 1990.
The distillery is on the banks of the river Turret, near Crieff in Perthshire.
It is tucked away in a steep valley between fields and tree-covered hillsides.
In the days of illegal distilling, this would have been a good hiding place.
Today it retains its rusticity while also being a tourist attraction.
© Michael Jackson 1994
For an unashamedly personal view of Glenturret you might like to check out
Dave Porter account.
The Hosh, Crieff, Perthshire, PH7 4HA
Tel: 01764-656565
Hear "Glenturret" pronounced in AU or WAV format
Search Dr. Do'g's index for the history of Glenturret
There just might be some news about Glenturret in The "Scotsman" newspaper