Ahead of our DRAM JAM party with The Glasgow Distillery, Scottish Rogue’s Neill Murphy delves into the history of the city’s first single malt in more than a century.

The Glasgow Distillery was created by three men: Liam Hughes, Mike Hayward and Ian McDougall. They took inspiration from Dundashill Distillery, the oldest known malt whisky distillery to have operated in Glasgow. Founded in 1770, it was situated on the banks of the Forth & Clyde Canal, and once owned by the Glasgow Distillery Company, so that name was chosen for the city’s newest distillery.

As well as being the earliest known malt distillery in the city of Glasgow, Dundashill was also the last. When it closed in 1902, only the Port Dundas and Strathclyde grain distilleries were left standing. For a short time, there was a malt distillery within Strathclyde, known as Kinclaith, but its spirit was only ever used in blends and never bottled as a single malt. For more than a century, the proud city of Glasgow was without a single malt to call its own. A sad state of affairs for a city with such a rich whisky history.

The new Glasgow Distillery went into production in 2015. However, as well as producing whisky, the team set out to create a variety of spirits. Makar Gin, Banditti Club Rum and G52 Vodka are all produced onsite and well aged single cask Speyside malts were bottled under the Prometheus label whilst the spirit waited patiently in its oak casks, slowly transforming into single malt Scotch whisky.

THE FIRST RELEASES

Glasgow’s whisky was finally ready to be bottled in 2018, with 1770 Glasgow Single Malt Release No 1 launching to favourable reviews (the 1770 name was another nod to Dundashill). The whisky was matured in bourbon barrels before being finished in virgin oak, giving it a bold flavour beyond its young years. This willingness to work with a variety of casks would become central to the success of the brand in years to come. Release No 1 of the Peated malt followed in 2019 and in 2020, the Tripe Distilled version arrived.

With the core range of Original, Peated and Triple Distilled firmly established, the Glasgow Distillery began to introduce their Small Batch expressions. Using a variety of different cask finishes, this new series showcased the full extent of the distillery’s creativity and innovation. Releases have, thus far, featured casks as diverse as Tequila, Madeira, Manzanilla, Marsala, Cognac, Beer, Red Wine, Ruby Port, Calvados and Tokaji, all of which helped to create an array of robustly flavoured whiskies that match the vibrancy of Glasgow itself.

In 2025, the Glasgow Distillery reached its biggest landmark to date: the earliest casks to be filled with new make spirit back in 2015 passed their 10th birthday and on the 15th of April, a single cask bottling was released. The whisky was aged for 10 years in a bourbon barrel. There were just 230 bottles available and it sold out in 25 minutes.

At Scottish Rogue, we’re delighted to be able to work with and support the Glasgow Distillery. How special it is, to hold in our hands, a 10-year-old single malt that was distilled right here in the city.

Scottish Rogue and The Glasgow Distillery host DRAM JAM at the Old Toll Bar on April 26^th. Come and celebrate ten years of Glasgow whisky with us.

Glasgow Distillery Company