THIS Distillery is planted at the base of the Kilpatrick Hills, on the banks
of the Clyde, and is close by Bowling Railway Station. It is twelve
miles from Glasgow, on the North British Railway, and a quarter of a
mile from the Forth and Clyde Canal. The locality abounds in charming
landscapes not unlike Richmond on the River Thames. The quiet
beauty of the hill slopes and wooded plantations, the hedges covered
with summer roses, and the numerous mountain rills, bas made this
place the favourite resort of artists, whilst at the front flows the great
river, with its nautical stir, and the Bowling Bay, with its wharves and shipping,
giving lire to the scene.
The Distillery is a very old work, having been built about the year 1800,
but considerably improved and enlarged by the late Mr. Hay in 1875 to meet
the increased demand for bis product. The Whisky is Malt only, and the peat
used in drying is brought from Stornaway and Perthshire ; the water comes from
a shady glen away up in the Kilpatrick Hills, and is brought down to a reservoir
close by.
There are four Malt Barns, one of them being 131 feet long and 21 feet
wide, with Steeps of a proportionate size. The Granaries arc on the upper floors
of the Malt Barns; in the latter they make upwards of 3,000 bushels of Malt
weekly, and there is a Kiln at each end of the buildings, with wire flooring
capable of drying the same quantity. The Mash Tun mashes 35° bushels at
one time; there are eight washbacks, holding over 5,000 gallons each. Three
Pot Stills are in use, the largest containing 4,000 gallons. Two of them are
Low Wines Stills, one containing 1,500 gallons and the other of smaller capacity.
The two Brewing Vats will each hold 2,000 gallons. The machinery in the
Distillery is worked by a twenty horse power steam engine, and additional power
is obtained by a water wheel, which is so arranged that they can work
together, or separately; the steam boiler is 3° feet long and 8 feet in diameter.
The Vat in which the products of the Stills are collected is capable of holding
3,500 gallons.
There are four Duty free Warehouses holding 6,500 casks and there is
a compact little cooperage employing two men all the year round.
The Whisky is gent to England, Ireland, India and the Colonies. The
Firm bas a Warehouse at 36, Douglas Street, Glasgow, where they blend, rack,
and bottle for home use and exportation.
The annual output is 150,000 gallons.
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