DISTILLERIE

DISTILLERIE

Speyside

DISTILLERIE

  After being demobilised from the Royal Navy (submarines), George Christie joined a former naval colleague as junior partner in the Glasgow firm of whisky brokers, W.R. Paterson & Company. Three years later (1949), they bought the whisky broker Alexander McGavin & Company (Glasgow) Ltd at auction from the Inland Revenue, in partnership with one Sandy Grant. George was appointed Managing Director, and in 1955 and 1964 bought out the other shareholders.

In 1955 he also founded the Speyside Distillerie & Bonding Company, and next year bought Old Milton Estate, Glen Tromie, three miles from Kingussie. In particular he was interested in Tromie Mills, a barley mill dating back to the eighteenth century, which had been run for generations by a local family, and continued until 1965. 

When restoration of the building commenced in 1967, the mill and water wheel were retained, and are still in working older. the first spirit ran on 12 December 1990, while the formal opening of the distillery was celebrated with a lunch on 20 September 1991.

George Christie also founded Strathmore Distillerie at Cambus, Alloa, in 1957 

The company's HQ is in Rutherglen, Glasgow, where most of the make is matured, blended and bottled. George Christie sold his shares in Speyside Distilleries in 2000 to his son, Ricky, Ian Jerman and Sir James Ackroyd, who became Chairman of the company.

  Closer to the source of the Spey than any other distillery, on the bank of the Spey tributary, the River Tromie, and close to the village of Drumguish (pronounced Drumooish).

DISTILLERIE

  There was an earlier 'Speyside Distillery' in Kingussie. Founded in 1895 it ceased production in 1905 and was demolished in 1911. The present distillery appeared in the TV series Monarch of the Glen as Lagganmore Distillery.


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