Glen Ord Distillery, known for its intense “green grassy” new make aroma, has become a key player in Diageo’s portfolio. The fresh, lawn-like scent of its new make spirit results from a combination of clear wort, long fermentation, high cut points, and copper-rich distillation. The distillery extends the interaction between vapour and copper by keeping the water in its shell-and-tube condensers hot, which enhances the flavor. During maturation, a sweet toffee undertone, gingery spice, and a subtle note of peat smoke are developed, further enriching the spirit’s complexity.
Located in the Black Isle, the distillery’s origins date back to 1838, when local laird Thomas MacKenzie built it. Over the years, it changed hands several times, with the Dundee-based blenders Jas. Watson taking control in 1896. The distillery was eventually sold to Dewar’s in 1923 and later became part of the DCL estate, which is now Diageo. Glen Ord is one of only three distilleries that is self-sufficient in its malt requirements, producing malt for all of Diageo’s northern plants and occasionally making heavily peated malt for Islay.
The distillery has expanded twice to meet increasing demand for both its single malt and its role as a key supplier for blenders. In the first expansion, its capacity rose to 5 million liters per annum (LPA), and in 2014, it doubled to 10 million LPA. Glen Ord has been available as a single malt since the 1980s, although it has been marketed under various names over the years, including Glen Ord, Glenordie, Ordie, and Muir of Ord. Currently, it is marketed as Singleton of Glen Ord, with a strong focus on promoting the brand in the Asian market.
