Nothing captures the whisky enthusiast’s imagination so much as searching for a whisky that is impossible to find. In fact there’s a famous inverse correlation that the collector’s reverence for a distillery increases in direct proportion to its unavailability.
Tracking down the last remaining liquid from a ‘lost’ distillery is not just another Sisyphean task, examples of single malts and single grains from the latter 20th century do remain and they can still be bought with surprising ease – for the time being at least.
What whisky lovers have long known – and the rest of the world is quickly discovering – is that the story of the twentieth century could well be told through the various rises and falls of the Scottish distillers. It is often said, only because it is so true, that each bottle from a long closed distillery is a time capsule and each sip is a portal into the past. It is also safe to say that when choosing what to buy, a whisky from a closed distillery will more likely retain its value, particularly if the distillery was destroyed and can never be rebuilt.
So apart from Port Ellen and Brora what whiskies from closed distilleries can you still bid on at auction today?
Here’s the complete list of all the Scottish distilleries that closed in the 20th century as well as links to available whiskies.
Adelphi/Loch Katrine Adelphi
1825-1907
Albyn
1830-1927
Annandale
1830-1921
Ardgowan
1896-1952
Ardlussa
1879-1923
Argyll
1844-1923
Auchnagie
1827-1912
Auchtermuchty/Stratheden
1829-1926
Auchinblae
1896-1926
Auchtertool
1845-1927
Ballechin
1810-1927
Bankier
1827-1928
Banff
1863-1983
Bellfield
1895-1901
Benachie
1822-1915
Benmore
1868-1927
Ben Morven (Gerston II)
1886-1911
Ben Wyvis
1879-1926
Ben Wyvis
1965-1977
Bladnoch
1817-1993
Bon Accord
1855-1910
Bo’ness
1813-1925
Burnside
1825-1924
Caledonian
1855-1988
Cambus
1806-1993
Camlachie / Whitevale Loch Katrine
1834-1920
Campbeltown
1817-1924
Carsebridge
1799-1983
Clydesdale
1825-1919
Clynelish / Brora
1819-1983
Coleburn
1897-1985
Convalmore
1894-1985
Dalaruan
1824-1922
Dalintober
1831-1925
Dean
1881-1922
Devanha
1827-1915
Drumcaldie
1896-1903
Dundashill
1770-1903
Garnheath / Glen Flagler / Killyloch
1965-1986
Gartloch
1897-1921
Glen Abyn
1844-1986
Glenaden
1882-1915
Glencawdor
1898-1983
Glencoull
1897-1929
Glendarroch / Glenfyne
1831-1937
Glenesk / Hillside
1897-1983
Glenfoyle
1826-1923
Glengyle
1873-1925
Glenlochy
1898-1983
Glenmavis
1795-1910
Glen Mhor
1892-1986
Glen Nevis
1877-1923
Glenside
1834-1926
Glenskiach
1896-1926
Glen Sciennes / West Skiennes
1825-1925
Glen Tarras
1839-1915
Glentully
1825-1910
Glenugie
1821-1983
Glenury Royal
1826-1986
Grange / Burntisland
1795-1925
Greenock
1795-1915
Hazelburn
1825-1925
Inverleven & Lomond
1938-1991
Isla
1851-1926
Kinclaith
1958-1975
Kinloch
1823-1926
Kintyre
1825-1921
Kirkliston
1795-1900
Ladyburn
1966-1975
Langholm
1765-1921
Lochhead
1824-1928
Lochindaal
1829-1929
Lochruan
1835-1925
Lochside
1957-1992
Malt Mill
1908-1962
Millburn
1807-1988
Nevis
1878-1908
North Port / Townhead / Brechin
1820-1983
Parkmore
1894-1931
Pollo
1817-1903
Port Ellen
1829-1983
Provanmill / Mile End / Milltown
1815-1929
Rieclachan
1825-1934
Rosebank
1798-1993
St Magdalene / Linlithgow
1798-1983
Saucel
1793-1917
Speyside
1895-1911
Springside
1830-1926
Strathdee
1821-1945
Strathmore / North Of Scotland
1957-1982
Stromness
1817-1928
Stronachie
1900-1928
Tambowie
1825-1910
Towiemore
1896-1930
Yoker
1770-1928