The Glenturret

Type: Distillery and brand

In 1828, a storm swept away utensils and destroyed spirits at the distillery beside the River Turret. The producer’s history, drawing on the Perthshire Courier, records a flood that made this Perthshire riverside setting anything but tranquil.[1]

Just outside Crieff, The Glenturret traces its history to a 1763 rental document naming “Thurot Distillery”. Its story takes in a long silence, James Fairlie’s revival in 1957 and a return to the spotlight for its own single malts after its separation from The Famous Grouse Experience.[1][8][5]

What The Glenturret is known for

An early documentary record, whisky making described by trade reporting as still done by hand, and a revival after more than three decades of silence give The Glenturret its distinctive history. Then there is Towser: the tortoiseshell cat whose estimated lifetime catch earned a Guinness World Record.[1][8][4]

Its own whisky has more recently returned to the centre of its public identity. Whisky maker Bob Dalgarno, formerly of The Macallan, created the September 2020 core range, while The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant brought another dimension to the visitor offering.[5][7] The distillery, its single malt brand and its restaurant are distinct strands of the place, each with its own story.

From Thurot to The Hosh

“Thurot Distillery” appears in a 1763 rental document of Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre. This is the earliest reference in the producer’s history, a dated record of the distillery rather than the name of an individual founder.[1]

The same account records the Murrays selling the distillery to Thomas MacInnes in 1814. He renamed it The Hosh, a name the trade history connects with the Gaelic cois, meaning foot, in the sense of the foot of the hills.[1][8] It survives in the distillery’s address. For another Highland distillery history, see Edradour.

John Drummond received a licence in 1818 and, according to the trade history, expanded the distillery. In 1825, John and Hugh Drummond secured the Ochtertyre Agreement, giving access to Loch Turret water and peat from the riverbank.[8][1] Behind the landscape lay the practical business of securing water and fuel.

The destructive flood followed in 1828, recorded in the producer’s history through its account from the Perthshire Courier.[1]

Silence and James Fairlie’s revival

More than 30 years of silence separate The Glenturret’s early history from its modern revival. The closure date is disputed: one account gives 1921, while the producer and trade histories say production had stopped by 1923. James Fairlie bought the silent distillery in 1957.[1][6][8]

Whisky remained maturing in the warehouses during the closure, according to the producer.[1] Fairlie’s task was to bring the distillery back into use. The producer and trade accounts credit him with reinstating the original equipment and subsequently running the distillery for more than 20 years as director and master distiller.[1][8]

Story box: a record, a silence and a revival

• Founding story: The producer traces the distillery to a 1763 rental document naming “Thurot Distillery”, without naming an individual founder.[1] Source: https://theglenturret.com/pages/about-us.
• Turning point: James Fairlie bought the silent distillery in 1957 and reinstated its original equipment, according to the producer and trade histories.[1][8] Sources: https://theglenturret.com/pages/about-us; https://whiskymonkeys.com/en/sections/how-illicit-stills-gave-rise-to-scotlands-oldest-distillery-distillery-thursday.
• Documented record: The early reference and later revival are distinct events; neither establishes uninterrupted production.[1][8] Sources: https://theglenturret.com/pages/about-us; https://whiskymonkeys.com/en/sections/how-illicit-stills-gave-rise-to-scotlands-oldest-distillery-distillery-thursday.
• Claim-source mapping: The producer supports the rental-document account and absence of a named founder; both linked histories support Fairlie’s purchase and restoration.
• Last checked: November 2026; the exact day is not documented.

A production and visitor timeline

These dates trace the documentary record, changes in production and the growth of the visitor offering.

Whisky making and the range

The 2019 renovation left whisky making untouched, according to the published trade account. It describes a manual process using relatively small pot stills.[8] That describes the working method, rather than a particular flavour or measure of quality.

Bob Dalgarno created the September 2020 range after his time at The Macallan: Triple Wood, 10 Years Old Peat Smoked, 12 Years Old and 15 Years Old.[5][1] A later trade account lists 7, 10, 12, 14 and 15 year old malts alongside Triple Wood.[8] The two lists capture different moments in an evolving range, not a fixed catalogue.

Peat makes that distinction particularly useful. Trade reporting says peated whiskies are leaving the core range; it does not establish when, or whether, peated spirit production ceased.[8] A change in the releases offered is distinct from a change in what the distillery makes.

Alongside those dated core ranges sit notable older and limited releases. These include the 25 and 30 Years Old releases of 2020, followed by the 50 Years Old, bottled in September 2022 in a release of 150 decanters.[5][8] The producer also lists Nocturne, a 14 Years Old limited release, and Deux Terrains, a 21 Years Old release it describes as its first with Sauternes cask influence.[2] These are documented releases, not a statement of present availability.

Towser and the public face of the distillery

Towser’s claim to fame comes with a Guinness World Records entry. The tortoiseshell cat was born on 21 April 1963 and died on 20 March 1987.[4]

Verdict badge: Towser’s record

The human visitor story has its own milestones. A visitor centre opened in 1980, described by the producer and trade histories as one of Scotland’s early examples. In 1991, the producer records, the millionth visitor arrived.[1][8] Later, under Edrington, the distillery became home to The Famous Grouse Experience.[7][5]

That connection still needs untangling. The Glenturret housed the attraction; it was not simply another name for The Famous Grouse. Edrington sold the distillery in December 2018, and the subsequent single malt range bears The Glenturret name.[5] The attraction belongs to the site’s visitor history, while the distillery’s own whisky carries its identity forward.

The restaurant and planning a visit

Chef Mark Donald joined in 2021 and opened The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant. The producer describes it as holding two Michelin stars, a status attributed here to the producer rather than independently verified with Michelin.[1][2][7]

For a visit, use the official website to check current booking arrangements, accessibility information and any age restrictions for tours. Check the distillery and restaurant separately, so a restaurant reservation is not mistaken for confirmation of a distillery visit.

Where to go next

• Glen Garioch: explore another distillery’s history.
• Edradour: continue through the Highland collection.
• Aberfeldy: discover a different distillery’s history and identity.

Sources

1. The Glenturret. About us. Producer’s account, undated web edition, checked November 2026. https://theglenturret.com/pages/about-us.
2. The Glenturret. The Glenturret Distillery: Discover Scotland's Oldest Working Distillery. Producer’s website, undated web edition, checked November 2026. https://theglenturret.com/.
3. Companies House. GLENTURRET LIMITED overview. Live register entry for SC616414, checked November 2026. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC616414.
4. Guinness World Records. Greatest mouser. Undated web edition, checked November 2026. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/greatest-mouser.
5. The Spirits Business. Glenturret reveals new core whisky line and redesign. September 2020, checked November 2026. https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2020/09/glenturret-reveals-new-core-whisky-line-and-redesign/.
6. Decanter. Glenturret whisky distillery hires Michelin-starred chef. Web edition supplied in the fact sheet, checked November 2026. https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/glenturret-whisky-distillery-hires-michelin-starred-chef-456227/.
7. Whisky Monkeys. How illicit stills gave rise to Scotland's oldest distillery. Undated web edition, checked November 2026. https://whiskymonkeys.com/en/sections/how-illicit-stills-gave-rise-to-scotlands-oldest-distillery-distillery-thursday.

This article is desk research based on verified fact sheet TOP-A187, distinguishing producer histories, trade reporting, the company register and Guinness World Records.

Last checked: November 2026.