About Glenesk (silent)
(Glen-ESK) Glenesk was a Highland single malt Scotch whisky distillery near Montrose in Angus, with a complicated history of name changes and production styles. It began in 1897 as Highland Esk, converted from a former flax mill by Dundee wine and spirit merchant James Isles, then became North Esk in 1899, Montrose when it was converted to grain whisky in the late 1930s, and Hillside when malt whisky production returned in 1964.
The Glenesk name was adopted in 1980, only five years before distilling stopped in 1985. The site’s distilling equipment was removed and most of the buildings were demolished in the 1990s, although the maltings continued separately. Surviving Glenesk and Hillside single malt is now limited to older official, Rare Malts and independent bottlings, with the whisky generally known for a clean Highland style showing cereal, apple, gentle fruit, malt and light spice.