Lochside

LochsideSingle Malt Scotch Whisky

Converted into a distillery in 1957, Lochside was previously the site of an 18th-century brewery.

The founder was Joseph W Hobbs, a famous figure in the industry who also owned Ben Nevis, Bruichladdich, Glenkinchie, Glenesk, Benromach and Glenury Royal. Most of the production went into the successful Sandy McNab blend during the 60s and 70s, but the distillery was mothballed by eventual owners Allied Domecq in 1992 and dismantled in 1997.

Both malt and grain whisky was made at Lochside for a time, but following Hobbs's death in 1964 the Coffey still was removed in 1970.
After a troubled spell under different ownerships throughout the 1970s and 80s, the distillery passed into the hands of Allied Lyons (later Allied Domecq) in 1992. Production was stopped the same year and the distillery was never to re-open, being dismantled in 1997 before demolition between 1999-2005.

The only official bottling of Lochside was a 10 year-old released in 1991, the year before the distillery was closed. The distillery character was sweet and floral, and some independent bottlings survive - along with a delicious 'single blend' Lochside released under the 'Scott's Selection' label a few years ago, which comprised both grain and malt whisky produced at the distillery and married immediately after distillation before being left to mature - a practice unique to Hobbs' distilleries (the same thing was done at Ben Nevis).