The Glen Mhor Distillery, established in 1892 and closed in 1983, was operational for less than a century. It was located directly on the Caledonian Canal in Inverness, in the Scottish North Highlands. This distillery is known for its rare and difficult-to-find single malt whisky production, tied to a rich history closely associated with high-quality whisky production. Official bottlings from Glen Mhor are scarce since the distillery never released "official" bottlings, but it was possible to acquire Glen Mhor Single Malt from the UD Rare Malts series, including 22-year-old, 28-year-old, and cask strength bottlings, mostly dating from the 1970s. Independent bottlings were more accessible, with a small variety available on the market, mostly conducted by Gordon & MacPhail or Signatory Vintage.
Glen Mhor is particularly noted for being the first distillery in Scotland to use a Saladin box for malting its barley, a method used until 1980, just three years before the distillery closed. This malting technique involved cooling the barley in a large rectangular container to ensure even aeration, symbolizing the distillery's innovative spirit.
Despite its relatively short lifespan, Glen Mhor has left a lasting impression in whisky history, primarily through its unusual and characterful malts. Its bottlings are known to be big, fat, and quite muscular with a meaty and lightly smoky undertone. Glen Mhor was recently mentioned as one of the malts in the Mackinlay’s blend found entombed in ice under Ernest Shackleton’s hut.
Glen Mhor's history is closely linked with that of Glen Albyn, as the two distilleries worked closely together for years. Glen Mhor became part of the DCL portfolio in 1972 but remained with the industry giant only until 1983 when it was another of Scotland’s smaller stills to close. Three years later, it was demolished.
The fact that the capital of the Highlands doesn't have a single distillery might seem strange from a modern perspective, where whisky tourism is a major consideration. It's easy to forget how different the business was just a few decades ago. Glen Mhor remains a fascinating chapter in the rich history of Scottish whisky, a testament to the changes in the industry and the enduring spirit that lives on in the hearts of whisky enthusiasts.
