Glenglassaugh
Glenglassaugh is a Highland Scotch whisky distillery located on the coast of the Moray Firth near the village of Portsoy in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Founded in 1875, the distillery sits close to the sea, and its coastal location is often reflected in the character of its spirit.
After a long period of silence, Glenglassaugh was revived in the modern era and is now part of the Brown-Forman portfolio, which acquired the distillery in 2016. Its range showcases a maritime-influenced Highland style, with expressions spanning unpeated single malts, peated releases, and older age-statement bottlings.
Glenglassaugh is a Highland Scotch whisky distillery located on the coast of the Moray Firth near the village of Portsoy in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Read more about Glenglassaugh
Glenglassaugh is a Highland Scotch whisky distillery located on the coast of the Moray Firth near the village of Portsoy in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Founded in 1875, the distillery sits close to the sea, and its coastal location is often reflected in the character of its spirit.
After a long period of silence, Glenglassaugh was revived in the modern era and is now part of the Brown-Forman portfolio, which acquired the distillery in 2016. Its range showcases a maritime-influenced Highland style, with expressions spanning unpeated single malts, peated releases, and older age-statement bottlings.
History and Revival
Glenglassaugh was established in 1875 by James Moir and his partners in the coastal region of Banffshire (now part of Aberdeenshire), on the shores of Sandend Bay. Like many Scottish distilleries, it experienced periods of production and closure over its long history, reflecting the shifting fortunes of the whisky industry.
The distillery was mothballed for several decades in the late 20th century before being reopened in 2008 following investment that returned it to active production. In 2016, Glenglassaugh became part of Brown-Forman, alongside sister distilleries Benriach and GlenDronach, which brought renewed focus and resources to the brand.
Today the distillery continues to produce single malt whisky while drawing on both its historic warehoused stock and newly distilled spirit, allowing it to release a mix of younger and older expressions.
House Style and Production
Glenglassaugh's coastal setting is central to its identity, and its whiskies are frequently described as having a maritime, slightly saline character alongside notes of tropical and orchard fruit. The core unpeated style leans toward sweet, fruity, and coastal flavors.
The distillery matures much of its whisky in a range of cask types, including sherry, bourbon, and other wine casks, which contributes to the depth and variety across its range. Some expressions emphasize sherry-cask influence, delivering richer, darker fruit and spice notes.
In addition to its unpeated whisky, Glenglassaugh produces peated releases such as its Torfa expression, offering a smokier alternative that still retains the brand's coastal signature.
The Range and What to Expect
Glenglassaugh's contemporary core range has centered on named expressions such as Sandend, a coastal, fruit-forward single malt, and Torfa, its peated offering. These provide accessible entry points into the distillery's style.
Beyond the core, Glenglassaugh has released age-statement whiskies and limited editions drawing on older stock, as well as cask-strength and single-cask bottlings prized by collectors. These older releases tend to command higher prices and showcase the effects of extended maturation.
When browsing our selection, expect a spectrum from approachable coastal single malts to more specialized peated and sherry-influenced bottlings. Availability varies by release, so newer expressions and limited editions may rotate over time.