Ben Nevis Distillery (Fort William)
An arm of Nikka Whisky Distilling Co.
Fort Augustus distillery
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
A distillery with an on-off existence in Fort Augustus, a locality with several claims to fame. It sits at the most southerly point of Loch Ness, has a string of vital locks on the Caledonian Canal and was the terminus for some years of an unsuccessful railway line that was originally meant to connect Fort William with Inverness. It also had one of the biggest Catholic seminaries and boarding schools in Scotland, which closed many years ago, was later tainted by scandal and has now been largely converted into timeshares.
Fort Augustus distillery’s exact location is uncertain but it seems likely that it sat close to the River Tarff, which flows into Loch Ness at Fort Augustus. Originally the distillery operated for a total of eight years from 1826 to 1834 under three different licensees. It then lay moribund for many years until it was re-opened in the 1850s under the name Glentarff, only to close finally in 1858. As with so many early distilleries, information on buildings, stills and output is unavailable.
Fort Augustus History
Fort Augustus distillery was first licensed to Messrs Clark and MacKenzie in 1826, then to John Clark and Co. from 1827 to 1831.
In 1832 it was under the operation of Donald MacDonald, but closed again two years later. A long period in mothballs ensued until sometime in the 1850s, when it was renamed Glentarff and re-opened by John Johnstone and Co., but the firm was dissolved in 1858 and the distillery closed then or soon after.
Timeline
- 1826 Fort Augustus distillery is licensed to Messrs Clark and MacKenzie
- 1827 Distilling at the site continues under John Clark and Co.
- 1831 Fort Augustus is closed for a year
- 1832 The distillery is reopened and licensed to Donald MacDonald
- 1834 Fort Augustus closes once more, this time for around 16 years
- 1850s The distillery is renamed Glentarff and re-opened by John Johnstone and Co.
- 1858 The firm of John Johnstone and Co. is dissolved and Fort Augustus distillery is finally closed for good
Contact
- Address
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Fort Augustus
Inverness-shire
United Kingdom
Map