| Region:Highland | |
|---|---|
| Location | Brechin,Angus |
| Owner | Diageo |
| Founded | 1820 |
| Status | Closed/demolished |
| Water source | River South Esk |
| Mothballed | 1983 |
| Demolished | 1994 |
North Port distillery was aHighland single maltScotch whiskydistillery inBrechin,Angus.
Brothers David, John and Alexander Guthrie, members of a local farming family, founded the North Port Distillery in 1820 under the nameTownhead Distillery and created the holding company,Townhead Distillery Company, as owner. The distillery was renamedBrechin Distillery in 1823, and in 1825, the holding company becameGuthrie, Martin & Company.[1] TheGlencadam Distillery was founded in 1825, a few hundred yards from the North Port, and in a likely bid to avoid confusion, the Guthries changed the name of their facility fromBrechin Distillery toNorth Port Distillery in 1839.[2]Guthrie, Martin & Company became alimited company in 1893, and changed names to reflect this asGuthrie, Martin & Company Limited.[1]
Distillers Company (DCL) andW.H. Holt & Company Limited purchased the distillery and its extensive stock in 1922 and around 1928, transferred it to DCL subsidiaryScottish Malt Distillers.[1][3] The distillery was latterly operated by its subsidiaryMitchell Brothers.[1]
Production at the distillery ceased for a period from about 1926–28 and lasting until 1937 when it resumed only to be halted again at the onset ofWorld War II due to the fuel and barley rationing instituted by the government. Production resumed in 1948 and continued until DCL closed permanently the distillery in 1983.[1]
The owners sold the site for re-development in 1990 and shortly afterwards,Safeway constructed asupermarket on the site.[3]Somerfield purchased the store in October 2004 as part of a larger sale.[4]
Bottlings of North Port Distillery Single Malt are still available.[3]
56°44′08″N2°39′37″W / 56.73556°N 2.66028°W /56.73556; -2.66028
