Statistical Tables: Active Distilleries

Number of Operating Distilleries by year 1900-1979

Scanned from: "The Scotch Whisky Industry Record" by H. Charles Gray ISBN 0 9522646 0 9 (Index Publishers)

Year England Scotland Ireland UK

1900 10 159 30 199

1901 9 156 28 193

1902 9 152 29 190

1903 9 149 28 186

1904 8 152 28 188

1905 8 153 27 188

1906 8 150 28 186

1907 8 150 27 185

1908 8 132 26 166

1909 8 142 26 176

1910 7 124 25 156

1911 7 122 23 152

1912 7 120 25 152

1913 8 127 24 159

1914 8 133 22 163

1915 8 113 21 142

1916 8 111 23 142

1917 7 112 24 143

1918 6 8 6 20

1919 5 86 23 114

1920 8 133 23 164

1921 8 134 21 163

1922 7 129 16 152

1923 7 128 5 140

1924 9 124 5 138

1925 9 124 4 137

1926 6 113 2 121

1927 7 84 - 91

1928 9 90 1 100

1929 9 92 3 104

1930 9 94 1 104

1931 9 72 1 82

1932 9 41 1 51

1933 9 15 1 25

1934 10 64 3 77

1935 9 64 2 75

1936 10 66 1 77

1937 10 86 2 98

1938 10 90 3 103

1939 10 92 2 104

1940 10 93 2 105

1941 10 72 1 83

1942 10 44 3 57

1943 6 33 - 39

1944 9 1 - 10

1945 9 57 3 69

1946 9 80 3 92

1947 7 82 3 92

1948 7 88 2 97

1949 7 91 2 100

1950 9 95 2 106

1951 9 97 2 108

1952 9 97 3 109

1953 9 97 3 109

1954 9 96 2 107

1955 9 95 2 106

1956 9 95 2 106

1957 9 97 2 108

1958 6 100 2 108

1959 6 101 2 109

1960 6 106 2 114

1961 4 106 2 112

1962 4 105 2 111

1963 4 107 2 113

1964 4 108 2 114

1965 4 111 2 117

1966 4 114 2 120

1967 4 116 2 122

1968 4 117 2 123

1969 4 116 2 122

1970 4 116 2 122

1971 4 117 2 123

1972 4 118 2 124

1973 4 119 2 125

1974 4 121 2 127

1975 4 122 2 128

1976 4 123 2 129

1977 4 123 2 129

1978 4 123 2 129

1979 4 123 2 129

Notes:
Although distillers were licensed or 'entered' for production from the late seventeenth century. no consistent statistics have survived. These are known to have been compiled at least from the 1750s as the Board of Excise of Scotland made an annual return to the Treasury in London. The start of the Scottish figures in 1815 resulted from the legislation in 1814.

The Scottish figures 1870-82 also include the figures for England.

From 1923 Irish figures are for Northern Ireland only.

The number of distilleries licensed to work in Scotland in March 1993 was 105 (Ref. C&E).

Year	England	Scotland	Ireland	UK
1900	10	159	30	199
1901	9	156	28	193
1902	9	152	29	190
1903	9	149	28	186
1904	8	152	28	188
1905	8	153	27	188
1906	8	150	28	186
1907	8	150	27	185
1908	8	132	26	166
1909	8	142	26	176
1910	7	124	25	156
1911	7	122	23	152
1912	7	120	25	152
1913	8	127	24	159
1914	8	133	22	163
1915	8	113	21	142
1916	8	111	23	142
1917	7	112	24	143
1918	6	8	6	20
1919	5	86	23	114
1920	8	133	23	164
1921	8	134	21	163
1922	7	129	16	152
1923	7	128	5	140
1924	9	124	5	138
1925	9	124	4	137
1926	6	113	2	121
1927	7	84	-	91
1928	9	90	1	100
1929	9	92	3	104
1930	9	94	1	104
1931	9	72	1	82
1932	9	41	1	51
1933	9	15	1	25
1934	10	64	3	77
1935	9	64	2	75
1936	10	66	1	77
1937	10	86	2	98
1938	10	90	3	103
1939	10	92	2	104
1940	10	93	2	105
1941	10	72	1	83
1942	10	44	3	57
1943	6	33	-	39
1944	9	1	-	10
1945	9	57	3	69
1946	9	80	3	92
1947	7	82	3	92
1948	7	88	2	97
1949	7	91	2	100
1950	9	95	2	106
1951	9	97	2	108
1952	9	97	3	109
1953	9	97	3	109
1954	9	96	2	107
1955	9	95	2	106
1956	9	95	2	106
1957	9	97	2	108
1958	6	100	2	108
1959	6	101	2	109
1960	6	106	2	114
1961	4	106	2	112
1962	4	105	2	111
1963	4	107	2	113
1964	4	108	2	114
1965	4	111	2	117
1966	4	114	2	120
1967	4	116	2	122
1968	4	117	2	123
1969	4	116	2	122
1970	4	116	2	122
1971	4	117	2	123
1972	4	118	2	124
1973	4	119	2	125
1974	4	121	2	127
1975	4	122	2	128
1976	4	123	2	129
1977	4	123	2	129
1978	4	123	2	129
1979	4	123	2	129