“Ever imagine Glasgow without its own whisky?” I ask you now standing before Bellfield Distillery. It is a story of revival. It is a testament to Glasgow’s enduring spirit. Bellfield Distillery marks a resurgence of distilling in the city.
Let’s dive into the story of Bellfield Distillery. It is a tale that begins with a vision. Founders Liam Hughes and Mike Hayward aimed to bring single malt whisky distilling back to Glasgow. In 2012, they established The Glasgow Distillery Company Ltd. This name paid homage to Glasgow’s original distillery that was founded in 1770. That distillery produced whisky until its closure in 1902.
Bellfield Distillery found its home in Hillington. This location is on the outskirts of Glasgow. It is not a traditional setting. But it signifies that this would not be a traditional whisky distillery. Production commenced on March 5th, 2015. The first cask of single malt Scotch whisky was filled. Glasgow would soon have a single malt whisky to call its own once again.
Bellfield Distillery faced challenges. It also achieved significant milestones. In 2020, the distillery was named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year. This was a recognition of its exceptional growth and innovation. The distillery also secured a £5.5 million loan. This enabled further expansion.
Bellfield Distillery has unique facilities. It features a laboratory. Here, experiments with new make spirit and wood casks take place. The distillery’s stills are named after Frances and Margaret MacDonald. They were Scottish artists and part of the Glasgow Girls movement. These stills can produce 440000 litres of whisky each year. This equates to one million bottles.
Bellfield Distillery uses water from Loch Katrine. This loch is in the nearby Trossachs area. This water is used to produce a Lowland style single malt. The first single malt was released in 2018. A core bottling is named the 1770 Glasgow Single Malt. It references Glasgow’s first distillery.
Bellfield Distillery produces more than just whisky. They also make Makar Glasgow Gin. In 2019, they launched a special edition spiced rum. It is named after 18th and 19th century drinkers.
Bellfield Distillery offers a range of whiskies. Glasgow 1770 The Original is a double distilled unpeated single malt. It is matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in virgin American white oak. Glasgow 1770 Peated is a rich and smoky single malt. Glasgow 1770 Triple Distilled is smooth and vibrant. These expressions showcase the breadth of whisky flavour made here.
Bellfield Distillery also produces Malt Riot. It is a blended malt whisky. The blend celebrates those who stood up to protect the Scotch malt whisky industry. It contains Speyside single malts with unpeated Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Bellfield Distillery continues to innovate with the Small Batch Series. These releases push flavour boundaries. They showcase the versatility of Glasgow whiskies. Maturation and finishing experiments include beer cask, Tokaji, and red wine casks.
Bellfield Distillery has expanded its warehousing. It now includes an on-site maturation warehouse. This allows for the careful aging of whiskies. The distillery’s products are now enjoyed in over 25 countries. The future looks promising for The Glasgow Distillery Co.
So here at Bellfield Distillery, you are experiencing a revival. You witness a new chapter in Glasgow’s distilling history. It is a story of innovation. It is a celebration of Glasgow’s spirit. It is a dram worth raising.