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Lochside
Founded
1957
Region
Highland
Status
Closed
Company
Production type
Single Grain,
Single Malt
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Lochside was a Highland whisky distillery situated just outside Montrose. Opened in 1957, it was housed within the buildings of a former brewery that operated on the site from 1786 until that year when it was acquired by Joseph Hobbs. As he had done at Ben Nevis, Hobbs installed both pot and column still in order to produce malt and grain whisky for his blends, filling a number of "blended at birth" casks in the early years (a process that saw both spirits vatted prior to maturation rather than after. Production was later switched entirely to malt when it was acquired by Spanish firm, Destilerias y Crianzas (DYC), in 1973.
DYC eventually became part of Allied Domecq and Lochside found itself surplus to requirements. It was shut down in 1992 and the site sold to developers in 1997. The famous tower, added by Charles Doig in 1899 which comprised part of the buildings (and a local landmark) remained until 2005 when it was demolished.
In its short time in operation, Lochside was dedicated primarily to the provision of blends, making both malt and grain whisky for the Sandy MacNab label and latterly also providing malt for DYC blends in Spain. It is surprising therefore that a briefly marketed Lochside single malt brand did in fact exist. It was introduced by MacNab Distillers (as a subsidiary of DYC) in 1987.
A sole 10-year-old bottling was available, primarily sold in the Spanish market until DYC was acquired by Pedro Domecq in 1989 and the product was then discontinued.
2005-present (name only)
1994-2005
1989-1994
1973-1989
1957-1973
Former brands
Single Grain,
Single Malt
