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Glenmorangie Distillery
Tain Ross-shire IV19 1PZ Scotland
Tel: +44 (0) 1862 892 477 / Fax: +44 (0) 1862 894 371
Viewer's Comments about Glenmorangie
 Since
1843, Glenmorangie distillery has been producing its famous
malt here on the shores of the Dornoch Firth. Though the
complex of buildings has seen many changes over the years,
Glenmorangie is still handcrafted to this day by the Sixteen
Men of Tain using tried and tested methods that have been
passed down from generation to generation.
The earliest documented reference to distillation on this
site was in 1703, in the 'Tain and Balnagown Documents',
and in the 1730s a brewery was established on the site.
Tain's first legal distillery was established by David Sutherland
in the early 1820s on a site at the west end of the town.
On the 23rd June, 1826, the Inverness Journal advertised
his property for sale, describing it as 'small but commodious'.
Unfortunately for Sutherland, he failed to find a buyer,
and although he was re-licensed for 1827, it appears he
went out of business soon after.
The Glenmorangie Distillery was licensed in 1843, and rather
than buy brand new stills, the Distillery manager found
second-hand swan necked stills that had been used in a gin
distillery. These, he decided, would do just fine. This
is why our stills have narrow, arching swan necks individually
hand beaten into shape by skilled coppersmiths. They are
exactly 5.14 metres tall (or for traditionalists, 16 feet
10¼ inches): the tallest stills in Scotland.
The year 1887 saw the final establishment of the Distillery
as a limited company by the Maitland brothers, who ran the
architects' practice in Tain. Their partner was Duncan Cameron,
the manager of the Commercial Bank. Soon, Glenmorangie was
exported all over the world; mainly to expatriate Ross-shire
folk in the Colonies, but also to fine hotels and businesses
in Europe and the United States. One prestigious customer
was the Savoy Hotel in London!
In 1915, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were billeted
at the Distillery, with the maltbarns converted into makeshift
barracks for the duration of the summer. This arrangement
continued each summer for the remainder of the Great War.
The barns were ideal for barracks, having plenty of free
floor space and, of course, the Tarlogie Springs providing
an ample supply of water.
Before the Great War ended Glenmorangie had passed out
of local ownership, and was bought over by its largest single
customer, the Leith based company Macdonald and Muir. By
the beginning of the 1920s, the rigours of wartime production
had passed and the Distillery was running again with its
full complement of Sixteen Men.
Securing a water supply had always been a problem at the
Distillery: the Tarlogie Springs belonged to the local Laird,
who leased the right to draw water from the springs to the
Distillery company. However, the land surrounding the spring
could be used by the Laird for any purpose - a situation
which could have jeopardised the quality or quantity of
the water. In the 1980s, there was a threat of building
development near the springs, so Macdonald and Muir made
sure that the water would be safe by buying 650 acres of
the land surrounding the Tarlogie Springs.
In the 1990s additional stills were added to the still house
to keep up with worldwide demand for Glenmorangie Single
Malt. Then, in 2002, we introduced two more fermentation
vessels (washbacks) as demand continued to increase.
Although we make more malt whisky than we used to, the
Distillery continues to maintain the tradition of only employing
Sixteen Men, who work around the clock, all year round,
only stopping each year for  Christmas
and essential maintenance. By only ever employing Sixteen
Men we ensure that our distillery remains one of the most
traditional in the Highlands.
Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt Whisky is famous for its
complexity and few whiskies can boast such a range of subtle
notes and flavours.
Courtesy of Glenmorangie |
My name is Joseph J. Foy. I am a professor of political science in the United States. Last week I received tenure from my university and my second book was released. In celebration, my wife purchased me the bottle of "21 Elegance" I have been telling her about since we got married 7 years ago. I recently enjoyed my first taste with a very select group of my closest friends. It was an experience I will never forget. The pure flavor nearly brought a tear to my eye as the years of struggle finally seemed worth it.
Thank you,
Joseph J. Foy
Wisconsin, USA
as Chieftain of the Queensland Malt Whisky Society, North Brisbane Sept, and who visited your distillery in 2000, when the premium whisky to my taste was Cellar 13. The current trend of flavoured whiskies, does not do justice to the foresight, and history of the sixteen men of Tain where there was pride and skill in the distiller, where age and conditions, such as the Cellar 13, created masterpiece whiskies.
We are tasting Glenmorangie in May, through a local agent, but they are not aware of the first Firth benifits that cellar 13 gives, or that there is a whisky called Cellar 13. Do trust that the standards that gained the high level of sales in UK and here in Australia, will be maintained, and thank you for a wonderful Malt, but lets taste and buy your best.
Angus Mac Dougall