Miltonduff Distillery

Distillery built on the old site of Pluscarden Priory

Overview

Miltonduff Distillery was established in 1824 by Andrew Peary and Robert Bain. It is said the site where Miltonduff was built was initially Pluscarden Priory founded by King Alexander II in 1230. Actually, where the distillery stands is said to be the meal mill of the priory (which later became an abbey). Today there is no connection between the priory and distillery, however, the name of the priory can be found on the Miltonduff presentation box. There was a period where the name was spelled in two words (Milton Duff) on the bottle, but later became united as one. Miltonduff is situated several miles southwest of Elgin and near the River Lossie. It was one of the first distilleries officially licensed.

Before Miltonduff was built, illicit distilling was promiment in the area. More than fifty illicit stills took advantage of the ample water supplies and the fertile land which produced abundant barley. It was common to see wisps of smoke regularly rising from the hollows all over the surrounding glen which was known to be the signature of a fire boiling an illicit still.

Miltonduff was one of 18 distilleries that use the appendage "Glenlivet" in its name, even though it is 20 miles from the river. During the 1880s it was a popular and effective marketing strategy to be classified as a Glenlivet.

In the 1860s Miltonduff was owned for a time by James Grant who also owned Highland Park in Orkney and in 1866, the distillery was purchased by William Stuart. In 1895, it was was expanded and during the expansion a stone which may have been used by an abbot for kneeling during ceremonies was built into the support wall of one of the stills.

Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd purchased Miltonduff in 1936. In 1992 Hiram became part of Allied Domecq and today Allied is part of the Pernod Ricard portfolio.