About Glenturret Distillery
The Glenturret sits beside the River Turret near Crieff in Perthshire. Its history combines an eighteenth-century record of distilling at Thurot or The Hosh with a licensed nineteenth-century business, a long closure, and a physical reconstruction in the mid-twentieth century. It is therefore historically important, but the familiar claim to be Scotland's oldest working distillery needs careful qualification.
The modern site remains deliberately small and hands-on. Wooden washbacks, slow distillation and close operator control support a light but intense spirit, while a recent mash-tun replacement shows that tradition here includes practical adaptation rather than freezing every piece of equipment in time.
History
The distillery's archival research identifies a 1763 rental record referring to Thurot Distillery. Industry histories place the start of clearly licensed production at The Hosh in 1818 under John Drummond. The official chronology also records Murray-family involvement, flooding in 1828 and adoption of the Glenturret name in 1873; specialist histories commonly give 1875 for the formal name change. These dates describe different records and transitions rather than an unbroken operation from 1763.
The business passed through several owners before closing in 1923. Its equipment was dismantled in 1928, making the later revival a genuine reconstruction rather than a simple restart. James Fairlie bought the site in 1957 and installed stills and a mash tun obtained from Tullibardine. Trial or preparatory work is associated with 1959, while sustained spirit production is commonly dated to 1960.
Fairlie also recognised the potential of distillery tourism. Rémy Cointreau acquired Glenturret in 1981, Highland Distillers in 1990 and Edrington through the 1999 takeover of that group. The site became closely connected with The Famous Grouse visitor experience. In 2019 a joint venture led by Lalique Group and private investors acquired it, refocusing the distillery on its own single-malt name and detailed cask selection.
What makes it distinctive
Water comes from Loch Turret and the Turret Burn. The former one-tonne manual mash arrangement was replaced in 2022 by a semi-lauter tun designed to reduce water and energy use while retaining operator control. Wooden washbacks and a single pair of copper stills maintain the compact scale, and slow distillation develops a clean, bright spirit with fruit and cereal intensity.
Maturation emphasises carefully sourced American and European oak, including sherry-seasoned casks. Glenturret also made heavily peated Ruadh Maor spirit for blends and specialist bottlings. The current owner has announced a transition away from peated production, so smoky historical stock should not be used to describe every present or future Glenturret whisky.
Whisky character and significance
Unpeated Glenturret can show apples, citrus, malt, ginger and a firm, clean structure; sherry casks add dried fruit and spice. Peated Ruadh Maor is a separate production identity. The distinction matters because past blend requirements and the present single-malt strategy represent different phases of the same working site.
Visiting Glenturret Distillery
The visitor operation includes distillery interpretation, tastings, retail and hospitality, continuing a tourism history that stretches back several decades. Current experiences and restaurant arrangements should be checked directly. Visitors should expect a working small distillery whose process has evolved, not a museum claiming every item is original to the eighteenth century.
Location and surrounding area
Crieff lies between the Lowlands and Highlands, with the River Earn, Loch Turret and Perthshire hills nearby. The location gives useful context for water, farming and historic transport routes. It can be reached from Edinburgh or Glasgow, but a distillery visit should allow for rural roads and pre-arranged responsible transport.
- Whisky region
- Highlands
- Location
- The Hosh, Crieff, PH7 4HA
- Visitor information
- Check the official website for current tours, tastings, access and booking arrangements.
Further information
Visit the official Glenturret Distillery website
The Glenturret: official history
The Glenturret: official production development
The Glenturret: official visitor information