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Glenesk
Founded
1897
Region
Highland
Status
Closed
Production type
Single Malt
Former name
Hillside,
Montrose,
North Esk,
Highland Esk
Glenesk was the latest of at least five different names used for a distillery that started its life as Highland Esk in 1897 when it was built by James Isles on the site of an old flax mill outside the Angus village of Hillside on the east coast of Scotland. Originally a malt distillery, it was converted to grain production by Joseph Hobbs' Associated Scottish Distilleries, which continued under Distillers Company ownership until 1964. Returning to malt distilling, it was known as Hillside until 1980 and then Glenesk until its closure.
Despite turning off its stills in 1985, the Glenesk maltings continue to operate and are today owned by the Axéréal group in France through its UK-based Pauls Malt divison.
Given the considerable upheaval that took place at the distillery during the 20th century, it is unsurprising that its single malt is something of a rarity. Its switch from grain production back to malt was predicated by its requirement for blends by the Distillers Company and it was licensed to William Sanderson & Son who used it for their VAT 69 brand. Never-the-less, the company also saw fit to market its single malt in the latter years, producing a 12-year-old for domestic sales and a 5-year-old for their Italian distributor, Gio Buton & Co.
The only other distillery bottlings were produced after its closure, a 1969 vintage released in 1993 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Glenesk Maltings, and four bottlings under the Rare Malts Selection brand, all labelled Hillside and released between 1995 and 1997.
Former brands
Single Malt
