Building record MAB4293 - OLD DISTILLERY, GLENLIVET

Remains of the old distillery of Glenlivet.

Remains of the old distillery of Glenlivet. This was the first distillery to be licensed in Scotland under the Distillery Act of 1823, set up by George Smith, although it is presumed that distilling took place here prior to this date. It operated until 1858 when production was moved downhill to the current distillery site (NJ12NE0009). It is depicted on both the 1st and 2nd edition OS maps as an 'Old' distillery. The site went out of use in 1858, when it was moved to a new location (NJ12NE0009). There are grass-covered foundations of several buildings plus the remains of a chimney, two dams and several water channels. Later tracks cross one of the dam sites. A cottage now occupies part of the northeastern corner of the site, and may utilise the footprint of an earlier building. Investigation was undertaken in 2021 as part of the NTS and The Glenlivet Pioneering Spirit Project. The old distiller took the form of buildings around three sides if a courtyard, open to the north. Five trenches were excavated. Across the southern range Trench 3 recorded a structure against the inside of the southern wall and two fireboxes which would probably have been used to heat the wash and spirit stills. At the east end of those feature a number of artefacts pointed to the likely location of the spirit safe. A brass plate with 'Gottleich Patent' is from an excise padlock, and an iron hoop for a barrel maty have been from the spirit receiver. The other trenches examined the western range, courtyard and east range. Artefacts recovered included bottle glass, pottery, iron work, copper piping, brick and slates. A perforated air brick may had formed part of a kiln floor.

SUAT, 1993, Archaeological Survey: The Glenlivet, Old Distillery (Bibliographic reference). SAB4739.

CFA, 1994, Discovery & Excavation, p.30-1 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2332.

CFA, 1994, SURV-OLD DISTILLERY,GLENLIVET, Report No.155 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2331.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2022, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 22 (2021), p.124 (Bibliographic reference). SAB8314.

ALEXANDER, D, 2024, PIONEERING SPIRIT: EXPLORING THE ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF THE GLENLIVET WHISKY, IN CURRENT ARCHAEOLOGY, 416 (Bibliographic reference). SAB8727.

Author unknown, n.d., EVENING EXPRESS, 06/10/2021 (Bibliographic reference). SAB446.

Record last edited

Jan 22 2025 11:48AM