A TEN minutes' walk from our hotel, along Buchanan Street, the finest
thoroughfare in Glasgow, and through busy Argyle Street, across
the beautiful bridge which spans the Clyde, and we find ourselves at
the Adelphi Distillery. Sixty-five years ago the site upon which it
stands was a fine orchard, but in 1826 the trees were cut down to
make room for the Distillery. The works cover upwards of two acres
of ground, and are situated close to the banks of the Clyde. The course
of this noble river, through the heart of the city,forms one of the most
striking panoramas of its kind in the United Kingdom. From the centre of
Jamaica Bridge, the scene presented to the ere is one never to he forgotten; a
forest of masts extending as far as the ere can reach; the open centre of the
silver stream; the wharves piled with wares from every nation, and alive with
men from all parts of the world; the continuous flow of passengers passing to and
from the various steamers ; and the endless variety of sounds and sights complete
a picture unequalled in any other city in the world. The bustle and activity of
modern days is here seen to its fullest advantage.
The Distillery Buildings occupy nearly a whole street on bath sides of the
war, and, as we approached, presented an appearance of great activity. We
entered through a Gothic archway, across a courtyard, to the principal office,
where we secured a guide, and set forth upon our tour of inspection. We first
proceeded to the Grain Lofts or Warehouses, buildings of lofty elevation,
one of them 112 feet long by 100 feet broad, and another 96 feet long and 20
feet broad, which, with the warehouses at Port Dundas, are capable of
storing 15,000 quarters of grain; the delivery of the grain to the various
ware houses is accomplished by the aid of steam and hydraulic machinery.
Adjoining the warehouses is the Malting Loft, a building 86 feet by 21 feet.
The Steeps here are arranged in German fashion on an upper floor, beneath
which the barley is malted in trays, of which there are some thousands, each
sliding from out an upright frame fixed to the ceiling, in order that the
operator may watch the progress of the acrospire; from this chamber the malt
is elevated tI: the Kiln, which is floored with wire-cloth and heated by hot air.
We next passed to the Malt Deposit, a spacious floor used for this purpose,
measuring 50 feet by 22, and placed in close proximity to the Mill. We should
here observe that the blocks of buildings four stories high, built on the banks of the canal, containing
three barley Boors with steeps, a malting Boor and two kilns, the latter
approached by a gangway from the lofts. They are handsome apartments, open
roofed, about 60 feet square and floored with iron plates. These kilns are fired
with peat in open furnaces.
We next entered the Mill Building which adjoins the engine house. The
whole grain is conveyed to the mill by screws, and the grist carried by machinery
to the "grist lofts and hoppers, which command the Mash Tuns. The mill
contains 3 pairs of stones and a set of rollers. From this building we proceeded
to the Grist Loft which adjoins the Malting House, and from thence descended
to the Mash House, which contains three large heating coppers for hot water,
and two circular mash tuns; a large underback is situated below the th ree
boilers. Ascending a steep stair we next visited the Back House, in which
are ten wash-backs, containing on an average 16,000 gallons each; there are
two more in course of construction in a building immediately adjoining. In
addition there are three wash chargers, holding in all 45,000 gallons, which in
turn command the stills. On a Boor above this department the coolers and
refrigeration apparatus are placed. Following the wash, as the liquor is now
cal led, we next proceeded to the Distillery proper, where the important change
in its nature takes place. There are two Still Houses, one of which contains a
Coffey's Patent Still for the production of Grain Whisky, the other for Malt.
The latter is a fine lofty and well-lighted building, some 60 feet high and
35 feet square, and contains four handsome Pot Stills, two with a capacity of
6,067 gallons, and the other 4,314 and 4,500 gallons respectively; here are
also the usual safe and receivers. The power of the Stills bas hitherto been
such in excess of the brewing power of the works; but the two huge backs
In course of construction will increase their capacity.
Our guide next conducted us, first, to the Spirit Store, where the spirit
is received from the Stills, hence to the two large Bonded Warehouses, four
stories high, and crowded with casks of Whisky of various ages, and af ter-
wards. to the engine house which adjoins the pump room. The engine house
contains one beam engine of 80 horse-power, a horizontal engine of 10 horse-
power, a table engine of 20 horse-power, two donkey engines for the boilers,
and a blast engine. There are six boilers, two of them 23 by 9 feet, two of
Galloway's 1875 patent, 28 feet by 7 feet 6 inches, one multitubular, and a
smaller one. In the pump room are three different and handsome sets of
three-throw pumps, capable of pumping 5°,000 gallons of liquor per hour.
The water used is entirely Loch Katrine, the proprietors being of opinion
that it contains all the properties necessary for the making of good Whisky.
Connected with the Distillery is a large cooperage, cask yard,. stables and
cart sheds; also a joiner's shop and other industries. The railway runs at
the back of the buildings, and the wharf is within two hundred yards of the
works.
In addition to this establishment Messrs. A. Walker & Co. are owners
of a fine Distillery in Limerick, Ireland, and another in Liverpool, particulars
of which will be found in another portion of this work.
The Whisky made is bath Malt and Grain, and the output, taken upon
the return for the season 1884-5, is 516,053 gallons.
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