North Port Distillery

North Port Distillery

Region: Highland
Location	Brechin, Angus
Founded	1820
Status	Demolished
Water source	River Esk
Mothballed	1983
Demolished	1990

The North Port Distillery was a distillery in Brechin, Angus that produced single malt Scotch whisky. The distillery was latterly owned by Distillers Company through their subsidiary Mitchell Brothers.^[1]

History

The North Port Distillery was founded in 1820 by a local farming family, the Guthries. The distillery was originally called the Townhead Distillery, and the holding company that owned the distillery was called Townhead Distillery Company.^[1] The distillery was renamed Brechin Distillery in 1823, and in 1825, the company that owned the distillery was renamed Guthrie, Martin & Company.^[1] The Glencadam Distillery was founded in 1825,^[2] a few hundred yards from the North Port, and in a likely bid to avoid confusion, the name was changed from Brechin Distillery to North Port Distillery in 1839. Guthrie, Martin & Company became a limited company in 1893, at which time they changed their name to Guthrie, Martin & Company Limted.^[1]

The distillery and the extensive stock was purchased by Distillers Company (DCL) and W.H. Holt & Company Limited in 1922 and the distillery was transferred to DCL subsidiary Scottish Malt Distillers around 1928.^[1][3]

Production at the distillery ceased for a period starting sometime between 1926–28, before production resumed for a short period from 1937 to the beginning of World War II, when once again, production ceased, this time, owing to the fuel and barley rationing instituted by the Government. Production resumed in 1948 and continued until the distillery was mothballed for the final time in 1983.^[1]

The site was sold for re-development in 1990 and shortly afterwards, a new Safeway supermarket was constructed on the site.^[3] The store was sold to Somerfield in October 2004 as part of a larger sale.^[4]

Bottlings of North Port Distillery Single Malt are still available.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Morrice, Philip (1983). The Schweppes Guide To Scotch. Sherborne, Dorset: Alphabooks. pp. 308–309. ISBN 0-906670-29-2. 
2. ^ Milroy, Wallace (1998). The Original Malt Whisky Almanac; A Taster's Guide. Glasgow, Scotland: Neil Wilson Publishing. pp. 83. ISBN 1-897784-68-6. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "North Port Single Malt Scotch Whisky". http://www.whiskymerchants.co.uk/northport/4521443771. Retrieved 2007-12-28. 
4. ^ "Somerfield acquires 114 Safeway compact stores". Somerfield. 2004-10-25. http://www.somerfieldgroup.co.uk/index.asp?sid=201&press_ID=1090. Retrieved 2007-12-28. 

Coordinates: 56°44′08″N 2°39′37″W / 56.73556°N 2.66028°W / 56.73556; -2.66028