Glengyle Distillery (Kilkerran): History, Owner and Guide
Updated: 2 days ago
In this guide
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Glengyle at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery / brand | Glengyle |
Whisky region | Campbeltown, Scotland |
Ownership (October 2026) | Mitchell's Glengyle Ltd |
History | Founded in 1872; revived in 2004 as the home of Kilkerran. |
Expressions to explore | Kilkerran 12 Year Old and Kilkerran 16 Year Old |
Visiting / editorial note | Check the distillery's official website for current access, tours and opening arrangements. |
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Glengyle is a Campbeltown distillery that was closed for most of the twentieth century and brought back to life in the early 2000s. Its whisky is sold as Kilkerran. This guide covers its history, owner and the questions people ask most.
Where is Glengyle Distillery?
Glengyle is in Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
Glengyle history
Glengyle was founded in 1872 by William Mitchell. Mitchell had been involved with Springbank, which he owned with his brother John. After a quarrel with John he first joined his other brothers at Rieclachan distillery before venturing out on his own. A storm took the roof off the new distillery in 1873.
The distillery was sold in 1919 as the post-war downturn hit all of Campbeltown's distilleries. It was auctioned again in 1923, sold for £350 in 1924 and had ceased production by 1925, with all remaining stock sold off. After a spell as a rifle range, attempts to reopen it by Sir Maurice Bloch, who with his brother also owned Glen Scotia, and later by Campbell Henderson Ltd in the 1950s both failed.
In late 2000 Mitchell's Glengyle Ltd was formed to renovate and rebuild the distillery. Over the next four years the listed buildings were repaired and new equipment installed, much of it from other distilleries that had closed or had surplus kit. Production began in 2004. Glengyle is described as the first new distillery of the millennium.
Who owns Glengyle?
Glengyle is owned by Mitchell's Glengyle Ltd, which is associated with Springbank Distillery. Both come under the guidance of Hedley Wright, a descendant of the Mitchell family.
Why is it called Kilkerran?
The whisky is bottled as Kilkerran rather than Glengyle because the Glengyle name is owned by Loch Lomond Distillers, who use it for a vatted malt. Kilkerran comes from the Gaelic Ceann Loch Cille Chiarain, meaning head of the lake of Saint Kieran's cell, the name of a settlement where modern Campbeltown stands.
Production
Stills: one wash still and one spirit still.
Water source: Crosshill Loch.
Capacity: 750,000 litres.
Check the official Kilkerran website for the current range.
Official website
Visit the Kilkerran website
Glengyle timeline
1872: William Mitchell founds the distillery, completed in 1873
1919: sold to West Highland Malt Distilleries
1924: sold again
1925: closes and remaining stock is auctioned
Late 2000: Mitchell's Glengyle Ltd formed to rebuild it
2003: reconstruction of the buildings finished
March 2004: distillery reopens
2009 to 2015: annual Work in Progress bottlings
2016: permanent Kilkerran 12 Year Old launched
This timeline combines the Wikipedia based draft above with Scottish Delight. The closure year differs by source, with 1925 given by Scottish Delight and a sale in 1924 in the earlier draft. Scottish Delight says the buildings were rebuilt by the Mitchell family of Springbank and that much of the equipment was bought second hand from the Ben Wyvis distillery.
Equipment and capacity
Scottish Delight lists a stainless steel lauter mash tun, four washbacks of 40,000 litres, a wash still of 18,000 litres and a spirit still of 15,000 litres. Expected output is 750,000 litres of pure alcohol a year and the water source is Crosshill Loch. It says there is no malting floor at Glengyle. Those figures are from a single third party site and are unconfirmed by the distillery.
Why Kilkerran
The single malt is bottled as Kilkerran because the Glengyle name is already used for a vatted malt owned by another company. Scottish Delight adds that Kilkerran is the name of the original settlement on which Campbeltown grew.
The Kilkerran range
12 Year Old: 46%, non chill filtered, about 70 per cent ex-bourbon and 30 per cent ex-sherry
16 Year Old: 46%, added to the core range in 2020
8 Year Old Cask Strength: an annual limited release, strength varies
Heavily Peated: a recurring numbered batch series at cask strength
Mitchell's Glengyle Blend: a blend also made by the company
The Work in Progress series ran from 2009, starting at 9,000 bottles, and the permanent 12 Year Old arrived in 2016. The same source gives both 2015 and 2016 for the end of the series. Range details are from Scottish Delight only, because the official Kilkerran website would not load. Check the official range before publishing.
Owner and visiting
The distillery is owned by Mitchell's Glengyle Ltd, associated with J&A Mitchell of Springbank. Scottish Delight says tours and warehouse tastings can be booked year round through the Kilkerran website, including outside the short autumn production window, and gives the company address as 9 Bolgam Street, Campbeltown, PA28 6HZ.
Sources
Further sources checked
Glengyle (Kilkerran) guide, Scottish Delight: https://www.scottishdelight.com/scottish-whisky/campbeltown-whisky/glengyle-whisky-campbeltown/
Springbank guide, The Single Cask (for the Mitchell family link): https://www.thesinglecask.co.uk/blogs/distilleries/springbank
Photo credits
Image of Glengyle Distillery. Photo: Leo / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0). Image source · Licence
Glengyle bottle range and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Kilkerran 12 Year Old | 12 years | 46% | Producer and release specifications may change; consult official sources. |
Kilkerran 16 Year Old | 16 years | 46% | Producer and release specifications may change; consult official sources. |
Kilkerran Heavily Peated | NAS / varies | Check label | Producer and release specifications may change; consult official sources. |
Bottle releases and visitor arrangements change over time; see original research and official sources.
More whisky distilleries to explore
More distilleries in Campbeltown Scotland
Read about other distilleries in this whisky region.
Frequently asked questions about Glengyle
Where is Glengyle distillery?
In Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
Who founded Glengyle?
William Mitchell, in 1872.
When did Glengyle reopen?
The company to rebuild it was formed in late 2000 and production began in 2004.
What is Kilkerran?
The name under which Glengyle's single malt is bottled.
Is Glengyle linked to Springbank?
Yes. William Mitchell was a Springbank co-owner, and today Mitchell's Glengyle is associated with Springbank.
Sources and latest checks
Whisky Clan has retained the original researched history and source notes above. The comparison table lists documented expressions, not guaranteed current stock. Please check the producer's current bottle labels for strength, cask details and availability.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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