The Glasgow Distillery
The Glasgow Distillery Company was founded in 2012 by Liam Hughes, Mike Hayward, and Ian MacDougall, making it Glasgow's first new licensed single malt whisky distillery in over a century. The company is located at Hillington in southwestern Glasgow, near the M8 motorway, with a city-centre tour facility and offices on West George Street. Makar Gin — Scotland's first Glasgow-made gin in the modern era — launched in 2014, followed by the first cask of 1770 Glasgow Single Malt being filled on 5 March 2015. First whisky releases reached consumers in 2018. Annual production capacity stands at approximately 440,000 litres, equivalent to roughly one million bottles per year.
The "1770" name honours the year of Glasgow's original historic Dundashill distillery, drawing a direct line between the city's 18th-century whisky heritage and its 21st-century revival. Water for production is drawn from Loch Katrine in the Trossachs, the famous reservoir that has supplied Glasgow's drinking water since the Victorian era.
Tours
Available
On-site Shop
Open
Online Shop
Available
History
Glasgow was a global whisky city in the 19th century, home to dozens of distilleries producing both grain and malt spirit. The last of these closed in the early 20th century, leaving the city without a licensed distillery for nearly 100 years. When Liam Hughes, Mike Hayward, and Ian MacDougall formed The Glasgow Distillery Company with private investor funding in 2012, they set out to reclaim that heritage.
Makar Gin — named after the Scots Gaelic word for "poet" — was the first product to reach consumers, launching in 2014 as Scotland's first gin distilled in Glasgow. On 5 March 2015 the very first cask of 1770 Single Malt Scotch Whisky was filled, making this the first Glasgow single malt distillery since the early 20th century. The name "1770" honours the Dundashill distillery founded in Glasgow that year by the Hastie family — one of the city's most important early legal distilleries.
The first 1770 single malt releases reached consumers in 2018, following the minimum three-year maturation requirement. The range expanded quickly: Banditti Club Spiced Rum launched in 2019, honouring the Banditti Club — an 18th- and 19th-century Glasgow social society known for its love of spirited company. G52 Botanical Vodka and Malt Riot Blended Malt completed the portfolio.
In 2020 the distillery was named Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards and secured a £5.5 million loan to fund expansion. The joint tour operation with Tennents Brewery on site broadens the visitor appeal. In 2021 The Clydeside Distillery opened as the second active Glasgow distillery; the Glasgow Distillery remains the first of the modern era.
Production
The Glasgow Distillery operates two wash stills and two spirit stills, producing approximately 440,000 litres of spirit annually. Water for whisky production is sourced from Loch Katrine — the famous Victorian-era reservoir in the Trossachs that has supplied Glasgow's water supply since 1859. Loch Katrine water is exceptionally soft and pure, contributing to the clean, light character of the 1770 spirit. A range of cask types is used across the portfolio: ex-bourbon, Cognac, Amarone, White Port, and Passito di Caluso casks have all featured in the 1770 range.
Tasting Character
The 1770 range reflects Glasgow's openness to exploration and experimentation. The Original expression is light, fruity, and cereal-forward — a clean, approachable single malt with citrus and vanilla. The Peated introduces smoke over the fruity base. The Triple Distilled achieves a particularly smooth, delicate texture. Beyond these, the distillery's willingness to use Cognac, Amarone, and other specialist casks has produced expressions that sit firmly outside the conventional Scotch palate, offering something new to adventurous drinkers.
Makar Gin reflects a similarly exploratory spirit: classic London Dry structure with a distinctly Scottish botanical emphasis.
What They Produce
Notable Bottlings
- 1770 The Original — Unpeated core expression, light and fruity
- 1770 Peated — Smoky expression, fruit and smoke in balance
- 1770 Triple Distilled — Exceptionally smooth, delicate texture
- 1770 Bourbon Cask Matured — American oak influence, vanilla-forward
- 1770 Cognac Cask Finish — French oak, additional fruit and spice
- 1770 Amarone Cask Finish — Italian wine cask, rich and complex
- Makar Glasgow Gin — Scotland's first Glasgow gin, juniper-led London Dry
- Banditti Club Spiced Rum — 2019 launch, honouring Glasgow's Banditti Club
- Malt Riot Blended Malt — Accessible blended malt entry point
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Visiting
Warehouse tastings are available with dates bookable throughout 2026. The distillery runs tours year-round; joint tours with Tennents Brewery at the Hillington site offer an expanded day experience. The city-centre West George Street location provides an additional accessible venue for meetings and events. An online shop with free UK delivery over £75 is available, and a physical distillery shop stocks the full range. Book via glasgowdistillery.com.
Official Website
