Scotland, Eastern Highlands: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making, production and tasting notes

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Glenury Royal

Description of the whisky

The distillery

Glenury Royal
Glenury Royal Distillery
Stonehaven,
Aberdeenshire

Owner: Diageo
Creation date: 1824

The distillery was founded in 1824 by Captain Robert Barclay and had to face hard times from the very beginning. A few weeks after starting production, a fire destroyed the kiln, parts of the grain loft, malting floors and stocks of barley and malt. This happened on 20th op April 1825. Another disaster happened two weeks later, when a distillery worker, James Clark fell into the boiler and did not survive. The whole energy of the founder of the distillery, Robert Barclay was needed for the distillery to continue its activities. And Robert was an energic man indeed. He was the first man to run 1000 miles in 1000 hours and was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of fame for this exploit. The fact king William IV authorized the distillery to add "Royal" to its name in 1835 is also due to the personality of Robert Barclay.
Robert died in 1854 and the distillery was put up for auction 3 or 4 years later. It was acquired by William Richie, and his family remained owner of it until 1936. It is however not really clear who was the actual owner, as it was sold in 1936 by Lord Stonehaven after a decade without production, form 1928 to 1937. Probably the Richies were leasing it from him.
The Glenury Distillery Company bought the distillery. Joseph William Hobbs was an important member of the company, and 2 years later, the distillery was transfered to another group, belowing to the same Mr Hobbs: the "Associated Scottish Distillers (ASD)" . In 1940, ASD was acquired by American National Distilleries, and later, in 1953 the latter was acquired by DCL which would later become Diageo.
Important refurbishing works were done in 1965. The number of stills was doubled, from 2 to 4.
Malting production at the distillery was stopped in 1968 and the distillery was mothballed on 31th May 1985. The decision to cease definitely production of whisky was taken in 1992, and the buildings were sold to an estate company. The building was partly rebuild in appartments.
The whisky from that distillery is rare now, and is still available at some independent bottlers. The whisky of Glenury was also sold in the Rare Malt series, and DIageo marketed recently a 36 years old "Special Release".

The whisky

A propos des notes de dégustation Your own tasting notes

List of the bottles

Description of the distillery

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Glenury Royal: Independent bottlings

Glenury Royal
22 years
Rarest of the rare


Age
22 years
Alcoholl
50,5%
Bottler
Duncan Taylor
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Glenury Royal: 22 ans
The nose is first discrete and seems to need some time to reveal its interesting fresh hay notes, with some meaty hints behind a light veil of smoke. By opposition to the nose, the mouth reveals immediately its nice aspects, slightly bitter, rather complex with fruity notes, some honey and a discrete metallic impression. The finish is lingering, with both woody and slightly metallic hints.
18/20
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Glenury Royal
36 years
1968


Age
36 years
Alcohol percentage
51,2%
Bottler
Official
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Glenury Royal
36 years


Age
36 years
Alcoholl
57.9%
Bottler
Official
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The nose reveals a nice freshness through pleasant floral notes and hints of unripe fruits (green apple) In the palate, a mix of sweetness and acidity. Tastes like sour fruits with sugar. Green apple and honey. Strange association. After a while some very light woody notes appear. Interesting but not transcendental mouth. The finish is rather long and pleasant, but no exaggeration neither.
18/20
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Eastern Highlands n

Eastern Highlands map

Dozens of distilleries have been created in this area during the 19th century. The area is situated at the East of the Highlands, covering the Angusshire, parts of Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire and even of Invernesshire. The Spey river has its source in the area.
Currently about half a dozen distilleries are active in the area.

Click on the map for a list of the distilleries of the area, on the title for further information about the Eastern Highlands area, and if you want to make an "alphabetical journey" through the area, please click on one of the pagode roofs, according to the direction you want to follow

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