Glenglassaugh Moves to “Shared Production Model” With Sister Distillery Benriach

Single malt scotch maker Glenglassaugh Distillery has laid off staff, and will now move to what its owner Brown-Forman called a “shared production model” at sister distillery Benriach. The company said this arrangement will continue for the foreseeable future.

Brown-Forman acquired Glenglassaugh from entrepreneur Billy Walker in 2016 as part of a $416 million package that also included the Benriach and Glendronach distilleries. Glenglassaugh has three core expressions: Glenglassaugh 12 year old, Glenglassaugh Portsoy, and Glenglassaugh Sandend. The last of those three, Glenglassaugh Sandend, was named Whisky of the Year by Whisky Advocate in 2023. Located along Scotland’s northern coast on a beautiful seaside cliff, it’s considered a “coastal” malt with hints of brine, sea salt, and minerality in the profile, and it has a well deserved reputation for making excellent whiskies.

Considering the quality of its liquid, Glenglassaugh certainly has had a rocky history. First opened in 1875, it was closed down in 1907 and remained shuttered for 50 years, reopening only for brief periods before closing for good in 1986. It wasn’t until 2008 that it was purchased by an investor group and the stills were fired up again. Its next change of ownership came with the Brown-Forman acquisition, but this latest chapter appears to be continuing the saga.

Earlier in January, Brown-Forman announced a 12% reduction in its workforce. As part of that move, it has now closed down the Brown-Forman cooperage in Louisville, which accounted for about 200 of the total cutbacks of 650 people. To many at Brown-Forman, the cooperage was seen as a pride and joy, and a tour of the place was a must-see for serious whiskey lovers. But the property has no room to expand, and after Brown-Forman sold its Alabama cooperage last May, the prospect of making barrels for Jack Daniel’s that had to be trucked 230 miles from Louisville called for greater efficiencies. Now that Brown-Forman is opting out of the coopering business altogether, it seems likely that it will partner with Independent Stave Company, the industry’s largest barrel maker, for its coopering needs.