Annandale Distillery

Researching The Water of Life!

We have assisted in researching the history of countless families over the years, but one research project that sticks in my mind is the Annandale Distillery. Back in 2006 we were asked to research the history of the distillery, which had closed around 90 years earlier.

When we conducted our research the buildings stood empty, lonely, cold and damp, a million miles away from the warmth of a Scottish distillery.

The Re-awakening!

We were told however that the distillery would be re-awakened. Many years of hard work culminated in the reopening last month, and what an awakening it has been!

The cold whitewashed buildings have been brought back to life and the first batch of spirits have now been casked. It will be three years before it can properly be called whisky, meaning the water of life, as it has to mature first. I’m sure it will be well worth the wait!

The Excisemen

Whisky distilling has had a long and colourful history. With few painkillers as we know them today whisky was a medicine of choice for Scots for centuries. It was used for many ailments and was often prescribed by doctors. It is no wonder then, that whisky means ‘the water of life’. Perhaps inevitably this high usage brought it to the attention of successive governments who imposed high taxes. During the 18th and early 19th century whisky distilling was almost entirely an illegal occupation!

Most Scottish distilleries have stories of how their whisky was smuggled across the hills, out of sight of the excise men! Annan is no different, there are accounts of smugglers from the Annan area being caught trying to take whisky across the border to England.

A change came in 1823 when the Excise Act was passed, and once again whisky distilling was brought out into the open. It was shortly after the passing of the Excise Act that we see the first references to the Annandale Distillery, which was operational from around 1830 until just after the First World War, a period of about 90 years.

From Exciseman to Distiller

George Donald, an excise officer, was posted to Annan in 1830. His mother, who was still living in Aberdeen, apparently thought George was being sent to the end of the world! George Donald rented the Warmanbie Home Farm from the
Mackenzie family, and soon after established the Annandale Distillery Company.

To learn more about this wonderful distillery and its history, read the ‘Reconstruction Diary’ or book a tour; you’ll not be disappointed!

Annandale Distillery in the 19th Century

Reopening of the Annandale Distillery

I have been following the Annandale Distillery project with great interest over the last few years. We were asked to research the history of the distillery in 2007. It was a very interesting project, one reason being that although I grew up in Annan and still live nearby I had no idea there had ever been a distillery in Annan. To be fair on me it has been a long time since whisky has been produced around these parts. It is now about 90 years since Johnny Walker’s closed the Annandale distillery.

Since 2007 plans have been underway to restore the historic buildings and start producing the wonderful golden liquid once more. Planning permission has taken time and an archaeological dig has also taken place. Building work should be underway by the autumn and they hope to be producing whisky by 2011, although of course it will take a few years before it will be for sale.

The Annandale Distillery website is very interesting and even includes an interactive archaeological site map with video clips explaining what they have found and what they are planning for the future.

Visit the Annandale Distillery site

Do you live in an old Scottish house and would like to find out more about its past? We can help you with your research, just email me the details and I will have a look into it for you.

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