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Built by the US company Schenley (trading as Seager Evans / Long John) in 1957/58 as an addition to their Strathclyde grain complex in Glasgow, all but a tiny fraction of this malt went straight into the Long John blend. The name comes from two Gaelic words meaning 'head' and 'shake, agitate or wave'. Sadly, the powers that be decided that the complex needed more room for grain and neutral spirits production and Kinclaith was dismantled in 1977, less than twenty years after starting production. It is therefore one of the scarcest malts around, with only a few independent bottlings available, all at prices that reflect its rarity.
Michael Jackson's Malt Whisky Companion describes Kinclaith as 'Light, melony. Aperitif', but some of the older expressions now available are heavier due to longer ageing.
