Glenglassaugh Whisky

Glenglassaugh is a coastal Highland single malt distillery near Sandend Bay, between Portsoy and Cullen on Scotland's north-east coast. Founded in 1875, it spent long periods as a relatively quiet producer before being mothballed in 1986, then revived in 2008 after more than two decades of silence.

The distillery is now owned by Brown-Forman, following its acquisition of the BenRiach Distillery Company in 2016. Glenglassaugh has since been repositioned around its coastal Highland identity, with a refreshed core range that includes expressions such as Sandend, Portsoy and the 12 Year Old, supported by older and limited releases. Production has also been subject to periods of reduced activity, reflecting wider pressures in the Scotch whisky market.

The house style is fruit-led, rounded and maritime, with notes of ripe orchard fruit, tropical fruit, vanilla, honey, soft spice and a gentle coastal freshness. Bourbon, sherry and wine casks all play a role across the range, helping to draw out both the brighter fruitiness of the spirit and a richer, more textured side in selected bottlings.

Glenglassaugh feels most distinctive when its coastal setting comes through clearly: not as heavy smoke or overt salinity, but as a fresh, windswept character running beneath generous fruit and cask sweetness. It is a Highland malt with a revived modern identity, shaped as much by place and patience as by its long years out of the spotlight.