Glenglassaugh's No. 1 barrel due to be poured

Barrel No. 1

PORTSOY, Aberdeenshire, Scotland -- Glenglassaugh Distillery was founded in 1875, sold off in 1892, enlarged in 1960, and mothballed in 1986.

Not an unusual story in a country that is home to a fair number of closed distilleries. However, every now and then one is brought back to life. That's the case of Glenglassaugh.

An independent group of investors took it over in 2008 and, after it was refurbished, went back on line. The first mash took place on the November 28 of that year, and the first spirit distillation on December 4 with the first cask of the new era filled two days later. Those first casks will officially become three years old and officially single malt Scotch whisky on December 16 this year.

Inside the Glenglassaugh Distillery.

The very first cask was emptied and refilled into two smaller casks -- a first fill ex-Pedro Ximenez (PX) sherry hogshead and a first-fill ex-Palo Cortado sherry hogshead -- on December 16 last year. In September 16 this year the whiskies were returned to the original butt and are now marrying for a period of three months.

On December 16 that cask will be emptied into approximately 650 bottles at cask strength, natural color and with no chill filtration.

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