🥃 Kirkliston Distillery
Last week’s email was much longer in its original draft than the one that actually arrived in your inbox. I’d planned to include Caledonian distillery in last Thursday’s article and save another unusual malt-grain combo for Friday’s paying subscribers’ piece.
But then I changed my mind!
Simply because the more I learned about these distilleries, the more they seemed to deserve articles of their own. And then, after subscriber Philip got in touch with some fascinating details that needed a bit more digging, I thought today’s article should feature that other distillery – one which was located less than ten miles west of Caledonian: Kirkliston.
About four years ago, I found myself nearby whilst driving home and so managed to take a couple of photos of what I believe is the only remaining building of the original distillery: the still house.
Now, more often than not, the first port of call when researching these lost distilleries is our all-time favourite whisky writer, Alfred Barnard. After his visit in the 1880s, he described the patent still house as a lofty building adjoining the pot still house. In the former, there was a Coffey still, capable of distilling 3500 gallons of wash per hour; in the latter, there were six pot stills of 5600, 8000, 2740, 1861, 1550 and 1800 gallons respectively. An imperial gallon, by the way, is about 4½ litres.
The annual output was 700,000 gallons and, just in case we were in any doubt, Barnard clearly points out that the whisky made in the Kirkliston Distillery is both Malt and Grain.
Now, Kirkliston distillery had several different owners over its lifespan. But at the time of Barnard’s visit, it was operated by Distillers Company Limited. Kirkliston was, in fact, one of the six distilleries that amalgamated to form DCL in 1877.
First though, let’s rewind a few decades...
The distillery was established in 1795 under the name Lambsmiln but in 1825, it was acquired by Andrew Stein of the famous Stein whisky dynasty. Three years later, Andrew installed the first continuous still (to be used commercially, at least) at Kirkliston distillery. I guess it was kind of handy, really, when it was your cousin, Robert, who had invented and patented the thing. You can read the patent HERE - you’ll find it useful if you have trouble sleeping.
The Steins, as some of you probably know, were linked to the Haigs and the Jamesons through marriage and – let’s just say it as it is – a smidgen of inbreeding. To be honest, when I look at their family trees, I swear some of them must have been walking around with one eye in the middle of their forehead.
Anyway, it’s safe to say that Andrew Stein’s venture couldn’t have been all that successful as he was declared bankrupt less than three years later. When the distillery went up for sale, the Stein still was included.
But, after a few changes of hands, the firm of Buchan & Co acquired the distillery in 1852 and ditched the Stein still, choosing instead to revert to single pot still production.
Buchan & Co only lasted three years before the firm that Barnard mentions – John Stewart & Co – took over the distillery.
And it was John Stewart & Co that installed the Coffey still which operated alongside those six pot stills.
Interestingly, Barnard refers to the Managing Director as Mr Stewart but that wasn’t John Stewart himself. It was actually his brother Robert. And the J.C Stewart that Barnard refers to? He was Robert’s son, John Charles, who subsequently took over the running of the distillery a few years later.
At the time, the actual John Stewart might not have been around, preferring instead to keep a low profile. Unsurprising given that a) he was about 70 years old and, for the most part, retired and b) not long released from prison. Oh, yeah; Barnard forgot to mention that bit.
John Stewart was one of the directors of the City of Glasgow Bank and was arrested in 1878 as part of the police investigation into fraud and embezzlement of funds. This was a huge scandal at the time and you can read about it HERE. Two of the directors were sentenced to eighteen months in prison; the others, including John Stewart, were sentenced to eight months. Now, it seems that public opinion was that these sentences were far too lenient which, all in all, kind of sounds all too familiar, doesn’t it?
Anyway, back to the whisky...
John Stewart & Co also owned a distillery in South Queensferry known as Glenforth.
And it was this name that the firm used for its whisky and which Distillers Company Limited continued to use after the amalgamation.
Here Glenforth is described as pure Scotch Malt Whisky. However, other references I’ve come across in the newspaper archives classify it as a blend. So, could Glenforth whisky have been a single blend? We’ll look into this in more detail in tomorrow’s follow-up email for paying subscribers.
Whisky production at Kirkliston distillery ceased in October 1920. The site continued to be used by DCL for many years afterwards, mostly producing yeast for the brewing and distilling industry. But a number of other products were also made there, as seen here in this photo from 1960.
Maybe this week’s subject line should have been Kirkliston Distillery: From Drams To Jam!
Slà inte! Justine