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Hiram Walker Whisky Tour – The J.P. Wiser’s Experience

One of the best things to do in Windsor, Ontario, in my humble opinion is The J.P. Wiser’s Experience, also known as the Hiram Walker Whisky Tour. When I think back on memorable experiences, this is definitely one of them. Not only do you get to tour through the cooking, fermentation, and distillation areas, the tour concludes with a whisky sampling session. Definitely worth it! Read on to learn about the history of whisky in Canada and what we sampled at the end of the tour.

I was hosted by Visit Windsor Essex in November 2019 with my friend, Kasia from Kasia Writes to cover the Windsor International Film Festival and have a girl weekend getaway . Whisky was a big part of the fun!

Due to the current public health crisis, the J.P. Wiser’s Experience Centre remains closed to the public and tours are suspended for the time being.  For more information, please contact J.P. Wiser’s Experience Centre directly. Be sure to visit when it is safe to do so!

Who is J.P. Wiser and Hiram Walker?

John Philip (J.P.) Wiser owned and managed farms in Canada and the United States. In 1857, he bought a distillery in Prescott, Ontario and the following year, he started importing corn from the United States. During this time he was growing his own grains – rye, barley and wheat and experimenting with flavours. After profiting from the American Civil War, he used some of his proceeds to purchase bushels of grain, new malt houses, a rectifier column, a copper tank receiver and a cooperate. By the turn of the century, J.P. Wiser was exporting whisky all over the world and was the third-largest distillery behind Hiram Walker and Gooderham & Worts.

In 1838, Hiram Walker moved from Boston to Detroit to work in a grocery store. Working his way up, in 1846, he began to operate his own store and started wholesale grain trading with local farmers. Seeing an opportunity, sometime in the early 1850s, Hiram was buying moonshine and using it to make blended whiskies to sell in his store. He was so successful that in 1857, Hiram bought 468 acres of land across the river, in Windsor, Canada. On it, he built the Hiram Walker & Sons Distillery.

Canadian Whisky Barons

Other noted Whisky Barons in Canada are Gooderham and Worts and Henry Corby. In 1846, Gooderham and Worts singlehandedly changed the practice of distilling in Canada. Their double distillation method gave birth to a light, smooth whisky instead of the unbearably harsh moonshine. Their distillery is the famed, no longer in use distillery in Toronto’s Distillery District.

Henry Corby bought a flour mill on the Bay of Quinte in 1853. Four years later he began distilling the mill’s surplus grain in Corbyville just north of the city of Belleville, Ontario. Henry imported US corn for his light whiskey, but he also added his own homegrown rye to add flavour and his personal character.

Hiram Walker Distillery

At Hiram Walker, 80% of whisky made in Canada is made at this distillery. So bear with me, J.P. Wiser’s Whisky is made at Hiram Walker, I’m going to go through and tell you why. And J.P. Wiser’s is not the only brand made at Hiram Walker. They can not tell us what other brands are made there because some are the competition!

What Is Canadian Whisky? And Why Do We Call It Rye Whisky?

Canadian whisky is called rye whisky because long ago, rye was the predominant grain used in the mash. The first recorded whisky making in Canada is in 1769 at a distillery in Quebec City. By the 1830s, more than 250 distilleries were using surplus harvest grain to produce an oily, pungent moonshine.

Americans in the northeast referred to it as rye to distinguish it from American whiskeys like bourbon. (Note, Canadians spell it whisky – no “e”). Why rye? Rye is a very hardy grain that withstood the colder Canadian temperatures. Hence, Canadian Whisky came to be known as rye whisky.

In order to be called Canadian whisky, the rules and legal definition is pretty simple:

• It must be made with a cereal grain (by international law, this is true of all whiskies). In Canada, each grain – rye, wheat, corn or barley – is fermented, distilled and aged separately and then blended together in different ratios to create a wide variety of taste profiles. It can be any cereal grain, not just rye.
• The cereal mash, distillation and ageing must take place in Canada. So it’s a true “Made in Canada” product.
• It must be aged in wooden barrels, 700 litres maximum for a minimum of three years.
• It has to be a minimum of 40% ABV (alcohol by volume), also known as 80 proof.

Canadian ryes generally have a higher rye content, but there’s no law that says rye actually has to be used.  Confused yet? It’s not rye whisky if it isn’t made with rye. It’s just called Canadian whisky.

What is Bourbon?

Bourbon is American whiskey that is made primarily from corn. Corn must make up 51% of the mash. Bourbon sold in the United States must be produced in the U.S. and stored in a new container of charred oak.

For reference, American rye whiskey must have 51% rye in the mash bill. So, Canadians use a variety of different mash bills – that’s a combination of grains (rye, wheat, corn or barley) in different proportions and then blend them after maturation to create different flavour profiles and a pretty damn smooth product.

The Myth Of The Brown Vodka

A terrible perception of Canadian whisky or rye whisky I have heard is that it is essentially brown vodka. I would argue that Canadian whisky is actually quite tasty and nothing like vodka at all. The process of Canadian whiskies is much like whiskies from other countries.

Canadian whisky is known for its smoothness, has flavour notes of sweet vanilla, caramel toffee. Often there are tasting notes of honey and fruit. Different flavours are attributed to different ingredients in the mash.

Why is J.P. Wiser Whisky Made at Hiram Walker?

The American Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865. Most bourbon distillers in the U.S. were located in the south and that meant that their whisky could not be transported and sold in the north. So, Canadian farmers and distillers were needed to send whisky south of the border to satiate the thirst of the northern Americans. Whisky was also used by doctors and medics as a disinfectant for wounds. I’d be crying over spilling whisky on my legs!

BUT, following the Civil War and the First World War, in the United States was a long period of prohibition. Prohibition dealt a really heavy blow to the distilleries in the United States, the Canadian distilleries were no longer operating at full capacity and values dropped substantially, even with all the bootlegging that was happening. Not only was it illegal to sell bottles of alcohol, but the bars were also closed, rendering all sales of alcohol illegal.

Times were so bad, this allowed for one businessman, Harry Hatch, to buy four out of the five largest whisky distilleries in Canada: J.P. Wiser’s, Corby Distilleries, Hiram Walker & Sons and Gooderham & Worts. And Hatch did so within a ten year period. They were all sold for a basement bargain price. And this is the consolidation of the Canadian whisky industry.

Now, let’s get on with the Hiram Walker Whisky Tour! The J.P. Wiser’s Experience takes you backstage through the production facility. You get to experience the story of Canadian whisky – from its vibrant history to the craftsmanship and process behind making it.

We had a guide for the whisky tour group – obviously, they would not allow us to wander alone and unsupervised. All tour attendees have to be legal drinking age, which is 19 in the province of Ontario. In order to participate in the tour, participants are required to wear closed-toe shoes. The J.P. Wiser’s Experience is approximately 90 minutes long. Important to note – the whisky tour is not suitable for anyone with mobility, heart conditions or balance disorders. We climbed the stairs numerous times and there were some precarious walking paths on the plant floor.

I can’t give away too much of the behind the scenes information, because it’s on a need to know basis. As in, you will need to take the tour. I can explain the production process though.

Production Of Whisky

First in the process is milling and cooling. In the Hiram Walker Whisky Tour, you get to go onto the plant floor. The grains are milled to a fine flour to expose the key component, starch for the cooking process. J.P. Wiser’s sources all their grain from Canadian farmers. Each grain provides a different taste in the whisky. Corn gives a sweet creamy taste, barley provides a nutty flavour, rye leaves a cinnamon and clove spice character while wheat is the bread palette.

The flour gets transferred to a tank where it’s cooked to 75 degrees celsius, to break it down into simple sugars. As mentioned above, Canadian whisky makers are free to use any combination of grains in their blends. J.P. Wiser’s whisky is made with corn and rye. Goooderham & Worts with corn, rye, barley and wheat. Lot 40 is made with 100% rye.

Fermentation of Whisky

The J.P. Wiser’s experience next takes you to the fermentation area. The liquid called a mash is sugar-rich and is then moved to a fermentation tank. This is where yeast is added. The yeast consumes the sugar and transforms it into equal parts of alcohol and carbon dioxide. After three days, the fermentation creates a distiller’s beer that will reach an ABV of 14-16% for corn and 8-10% for rye, barley and wheat. This process creates five different flavours: fruity, floral, grassy, soap and sulphur.

On this Hiram Walked Whisky Tour, I did get to stick my finger into the mash, which was distilled corn. It wasn’t boiling hot as I expected, but in true “what am I thinking” fashion, I licked my fingers. It tasted awful. I seriously need to stop volunteering to do things first.

Distillation of Whisky

The next stop on the J.P. Wiser’s Experience is the distillation process. This is where liquids are separated based on their boiling points. Science lesson, if you have ever cooked with alcohol, you will have learned that alcohol boils at 78 degrees celsius and water will boil at 100 degrees celsius.

Distilling in a copper removes the sulphur smell and flavour. Canadian whisky distillers use different types of copper stills, depending on the grain they’re using and the flavour profile they’re looking for. J.P. Wiser’s whiskey starts with one pass through a tall copper, cylindrical beer still, which boils the distiller’s beer and turns it into a grain spirit.

From here, depending on the blend, they move on to one of the three possible steps:

• Put into a cask to mature so it can be used as a flavouring whisky for blending with a base whisky
• Distilled a second time in a column still to concentrate the alcohol to 94.5% ABV. This creates a light and refined spirit that can then mature to form a base whisky.
• Distilled a second time in a copper pot still  – for rye whisky. It’s a slower process that gives the distiller the ability to increase the concentration of the fruity, floral and grain notes while retaining the spicy qualities of the rye grain.

What’s your favourite way to drink whiskey?

How do you drink your whisky? Neat? With water? On The Rocks? With Ginger Ale? Other?

The Hiram Walker Whisky Tour concludes with a sampling session of some of the award-winning whiskies from the distillery. It was like years of sweet history in my mouth. We tasted J.P. Wiser’s Deluxe, J.P. Wiser’s 15-year-old, Lot 40 and Pike Creek. Lot 40 is the one I liked the best. Notice the glasses in the photo below – we sampled with a snifter. Not to be confused with a wine glass, a snifter has a narrow top that traps the aroma inside the glass. The rounded bottom allows the glass to be cupped in the hand. Body heat from the hand warms the whisky.

Prior to the J.P. Wiser’s Experience, also known as the Hiram Walker Whisky Tour, I completely lacked all appreciation for how to properly taste whiskey prior to this tour. It’s a true art!

kathrynanywhere

Award-winning television editor and travel writer. Bold. Brazen. Blunt. Thrill-seeker. Adrenaline junkie. Off-road 4×4 driver. Jeep Wrangler owner. Certified open water PADI diver. Waterfall chaser. Trailblazer. 2nd-degree blackbelt in Shotokan Karate. Mom of two. Toronto dweller. Country girl at heart. Happiest on snowshoes. Queen of ridiculous poses. Craft beer lover. Local wine connoisseur. Amateur mixologist. Married to John Krasinski in my dreams. Proud Canadian.

3 thoughts on “ Hiram Walker Whisky Tour – The J.P. Wiser’s Experience ”

This іs very interesting!

Love it! I so think about this every morning when I’m climbing the CN Tower! hahaha

You and me both!

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Willistead Manor Tours

Breathtaking beauty. Tour one of Windsor's most elegant mansions – an unforgettable experience for all.

Public Tours

Public tours of Willistead Manor are traditionally available throughout the months of July and December each year. Summer is the ideal time to visit and see the building in its natural beauty, while the December Holiday Tours showcase the manor all decked out in its holiday finest. The 36-room mansion that sits within the 15-acre Willistead Park was built in 1906 and was briefly the home of Edward Chandler Walker and his wife, Mary. Today, this cultural gem in the City of Windsor is the perfect location for tours, weddings, receptions, meetings, performances and special events. Experience Willistead Manor. History never looked so good...

July Summer Tours 2023

• Tuesdays, July 4, 11, 18 and 25, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sundays, July 16 and 23, 2023 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Cost: $6.25 adults, $5.25 students and seniors, $2.75 children 12 and under.
• Tour reservations are not required in advance. Tickets are purchased on-site upon arrival at the Coach House.
• Tickets may be purchased using cash, debit or credit.
• Tour includes the Coach House Historical Exhibition.
• Special Willistead Manor keepsake items will be available for purchase on-site from the Friends of Willistead.

December 2023 Holiday Tours

• Wednesdays, December 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sundays, December 3, 10 and 17, 2023, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Cost: $6.25 adults, $5.25 students and seniors, $2.75 children 12 and under.
• Tour reservations are not required in advance. Tickets are purchased on-site upon arrival at the Coach House. 

Breakfast With Santa 2023

• Sundays, December 3, 10 and 17, 2023.
• One seating at 10 a.m.
• Experience includes breakfast buffet, Santa visit and photo op, and self-guided mini-tour of main floor.
• Ticket prices will include the buffet and Santa visit.
• Keepsake photos with Santa will cost extra on-site.
• Full details will be released in October 2023, including pricing, menu, and link to purchase tickets.

New Coach House Historical Exhibition

Tour Prices

• Adults: $6.25.
• Students and Seniors: $5.25.
• Children 12 and Under: $2.75.

Willistead Manor Interior Photos

• Photos from our Willistead Manor Virtual Tour .

Private Group Tours

Private group tours are available at Willistead Manor for groups of 25 or more. Please contact us directly for details and bookings at 519-253-2365 by phone or [email protected]  by email. Private/group tour rates are $5.25.

If your group is less than 25, you can still book a Private Tour. However, you will be charged the rate for 25 people.

• View Willistead Manor's Virtual Tour .

Please consider joining the Friends of Willistead, a volunteer community group dedicated to enriching the programming of Willistead Manor, that offers special events throughout the year and serves as tour guides. 

J.P. Wiser's Distillery Experience

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J.P. Wiser's Distillery Experience - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Hiram Walker & Sons Distillery 2072 Riverside Drive East Windsor, ON N8Y 4S5

Please enjoy our products responsibly.

©2024 Corby Spirit & Wine Ltd. All Rights Reserved. By entering this site, you are agreeing to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. By continuing to browse this site, you are agreeing to accept our use of cookies. You must be legal drinking age in your province of residence to enter this site. Please only share this site with those who are of legal

J.P. Wiser's Deluxe Canadian Whisky

Our signature whisky, J.P. Wiser’s Deluxe is an award-winning, full-flavoured Canadian rye whisky. With a rich aroma and a body that’s complex but balanced, you’ll taste oak, toasted grains, and rich toffee, with a finish that is smooth and enduring.

This versatile spirit can be enjoyed any number of ways – it tastes great simply on the rocks or mixed with your favourite soda.

Important: Ontario Shipping ONLY

Due to Liquor Laws, shipping direct from our distillery is only available in Ontario.

Please be informed that shipping time is upto 5-7 business days due to the Holiday rush. Thank you for your understanding.

Important: Alcohol deliveries in Ontario require proof of age. A valid Government Issued photo ID will need to be shown at time of Delivery. For more information on our Shipping Policies and updates during COVID-19 please check our FAQs Page.

Unfortunately, due to Liquor Laws, shipping direct from our distillery is only available in Ontario.

If you plan to visit us, contact us so we can set aside your favourite products for you.

Unfortunately, we are unable to ship alcohol/merchandise outside of Canada. If you plan to visit us, contact us so we can set aside your favourite products for you.

• AlcoholABV 40%
• Volume/10gAlcohol 10.56
• Calories 97
• Saturates 0Grams
• Carbs 0Grams
• Proteins 0Grams

Write Your Review

Liquor taster

Top shelf taste, beats the hell out of other imports . Don’t waste your money, wisers only.

GREAT TASTING

I use this whiskey in my BBQ sauce which is called Widow Maker and the taste is out of this world I can put my sauce in or on anything. follow me on Instagram.

Widow_Maker1969 I make regular and spicy as well. no artificial flavors, colors or artificial preservatives.

Drank it for years

Drank it for years and it’s great for the price but recently bought it’s brother and have not stopped

JP Wiser’s Deluxe Canadian Whisky is delicious, a truly great whisky. I highly recommend it. Thank you. 🙂

Canada’s Hiram Walker Distillery Opens To Limited Public Tours

• by Nino Kilgore-Marchetti
• March 22, 2017

The Hiram Walker distillery in Windsor, Ontario, Canada is a massive spirits making complex ultimately owned by Pernod Ricard. It is said to produce a good majority of the Canadian whisky out there , and includes in its mix of products either under Pernod Ricard or produced for someone else Wiser’s, Canadian Club and Lot No. 40, among others. The facility has long been closed to most public access, but now a new partnership is set to throw open the doors in a more consumer friendly, but still somewhat limited, fashion as part of a walking tour.

WindsorEats, a local food tourism outfit, and Corby Spirits (Pernod Ricard’s Canadian arm) have apparently struck an agreement for a revamped “Drinks of Walkerville” walking tour which includes visiting the distillery in groups of no larger then 16 at any one time. Starting at the beginning of April for the first time in 16 years visitors will get a tour of Walker, and be offered a guided tasting of four Canadian whiskeys inside the the J.P. Wiser’s Brand Centre: Wiser’s Deluxe, Lot 40, Gooderham & Worts, and Pike Creek. Additionally, a special fifth tasting will happen directly from a whiskey barrel.

“Being able to visit the distillery will not only provide a new and unique experience on our existing tour, but also allows the chance to showcase the great culinary tourism offerings in Windsor,” said Adriano Ciotoli, co-owner of WindsorEats, in a prepared statement . “It gives an opportunity to passionate whisky lovers and those who are just curious at heart to get a hands-on look at how world class Canadian whisky is made.”

In addition to a visit to the distillery and tasting at the visitor’s center, other whiskey related aspects of this walking tour will include an engraved, commemorative Drinks of Walkerville bottle (750ml) of J.P. Wiser’s Deluxe Whisky; a stop to take photos in front of the “Whisky Palace”, the original Canadian Club headquarters, and a “stroll through Hiram Walker’s historic company town, Walkerville, to learn about the history, the architecture and the folklore associated with Whiskytown, Canada.”

To give you perspective on just how big Hiram Walker is, it is considered to be one of the the largest distilleries in North America. It boasts 37 fermenters, and the onsite “manufacturing process distills 180,000 litres of alcohol every 24 hours and operates 24 hours a day, five days a week to produce a variety of products including vodka, rum, and Canadian whisky. Fourteen maturing warehouses currently store 1.3 million barrels of spirits, which are blended and eventually bottled on four high-speed lines using one of the 50 available bottle molds.”

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The roots of Canadian whisky in Windsor, Canada

Whiskytown tours, on this page, take a tour through windsor’s whiskytown history.

For the best Canadian whisky, you have to start in Windsor. Neat, straight up, on the rocks or mixed into a classic cocktail, we love to enjoy a dram of whisky.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the storied history of distilling in the birthplace of Canadian whisky, Windsor, aka Whiskytown. And discover how to experience part of this rich past firsthand.

In 1858, nine years before Canadian Confederation, Detroit businessman Hiram Walker established the Hiram Walker and Sons Ltd. Distillery across the border in a neighbourhood of Windsor that would become Walkerville.

He employed an innovative distilling process using oak barrels to age and flavour the spirits (vs the traditional technique of running the liquor through charcoal) and demand was immediate. The smooth new whisky was distributed exclusively to various ‘gentlemen’s clubs’, hence the label Canadian Club. The hugely successful label stayed in the Walker family until 1926, when the brand merged with Gooderham & Worts, Ltd

Besides the enhanced flavour and quality, Canadian Club’s tremendous success was in part due to the Prohibition era in the US. During the roaring twenties, rum-running and bootlegging across the Detroit-Windsor border was a highly lucrative and totally illicit activity during America’s dry spell.

The streets and shores of Windsor and neighbouring towns along the Detroit River hold tales of intrigue as barrel after barrel of Canadian whisky was smuggled by boat or by ‘whisky sixes’, smaller six-cylinder-engine cars less likely to crack the ice in winter.

Rumor has it that mobster Al Capone himself was a ‘customer’ and he and his notorious Purple Gang was hosted by local rum-runner boss, Harry Low at his home. The recently restored Low Mansion is an architectural gem, just imagine how opulent it must have been back in the day to receive legendary Capone.

You needn’t be so clandestine to get your hands on premium Canadian craft whisky today. Whisky aficionados, history buffs and anyone who was obsessed with Mad Men or Boardwalk Empire, take note!

The Hiram Walker & Sons Distillery offers a 90-minute J.P.Wiser’s Experience public tour that walks you through the story of Canadian whisky, from its history to the craftsmanship and process behind making it, followed by a sampling session.

Or check out the various guided and self-guided tours along the Barrels, Bottles &Brews Trail to ten craft breweries and two distilleries in the area; Hiram Walker and newcomer Wolfhead Distillery , a small batch, ultra-premium producer of award-winning whiskies, as well as vodka and rye just outside Windsor in Amherstburg. The Rum Runners Tour is an engaging bus tour that takes the form of a travelling play with costumed performers.

Cheers to Windsor’s wonderful whisky history!  

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J.P. Wiser's Distillery Experience

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Willistead Manor to open its doors to residents free of charge in July

The City of Windsor is keeping the celebration of Hiram Walker’s 206th birthday going by offering residents a chance to tour the historic Willistead Manor and the new coach house free of charge.

The city is offering public summer tours of the manor and Coach House Historical Exhibition throughout the month of July on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Tour dates:

• Wednesdays, July 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2022 from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Sundays, July 10, 17, 24 and 31, 2022 from 1 to 4 p.m.

“We are always proud to showcase Willistead Manor, and certainly there is renewed interest with the recent unveiling of the new Coach House Historical Exhibition. I am amazed at the transformation in the space, with the Coach House becoming the latest satellite location in the Museum Windsor family of sites where our stories are shared,” Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said.

Willistead Manor was built for Hiram Walker’s second son, Edward Chandler Walker, the founder of the distillery, and his wife Mary Elizabeth Griffin Walker in 1906. It was designed by noted Detroit architect Albert Khan who built the Manor House, Coach House and the Gate House on the 15-acre estate.

The manor was designed in the 16th century Tudor-Jacobean style and was named after Edward’s late brother Willis. The Walkers lived there until Edward’s death in 1915. He was buried in St. Mary’s churchyard across the street.

Today, the 36-room mansion is used as an event venue for weddings, receptions, theatre performances, and poetry readings, among others.

“Today’s Windsor would be a shadow of itself without the indelible contributions of Hiram Walker, Edward and Mary Walker, and the Walker Family. Edward and Mary built Willistead Manor, which became one of the greatest gifts our community has ever received,” Dilkens said. “Now, guests touring the site can begin at the Coach House, learning about the man who built the community of Walkerville, the son of Hiram who built the manor, and the woman who worked on it right alongside him. We are grateful to the Merinoff Foundation who funded the exhibition, to the descendants of Hiram Walker, Willistead Manor Inc., and the Friends of Willistead. I invite everyone to visit to learn the story of the man, the family, and the home that shaped a community.”

With the regular tour fee waived, the city is asking guests to instead donate a minimum $2 donation on-site to the Friends of Willistead, a volunteer group that supports events and activities at Willistead Manor.  

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Distillery Lists

Whisky fundementals, social links.

• Distilleries

Glencadam distillery

Glencadam whisky, house style.

Glencadam is a Malt Whisky distillery in the Scottish town of Brechin in the eastern Highlands of Scotland, near the foot of the Cairngorms. The name Glencadam can be translated as the valley of the wild goose.

The Glencadam whiskey distillery is located near the River Esk, between the football stadium and the cemetery in the approximately 7,000-strong medieval town of Brechin near Montrose in the southern Eastern Highlands. Dundee is around 30 km away. The village itself used to have two grain distilleries, Glenesk (a.k.a Hillside) and Lochside. Although the Glencadam Distillery is rather unknown, it is believed to be one of the oldest whiskey distilleries in Scotland, with its presumed year of foundation in 1823. The Glencadam distillery is the last remaining distillery in the village of Brechin, which was still home to the North Port (Brechin) Distillery until 1983.

For far too long, Glencadam was rarely seen as a pure owner’s bottling. But slowly the doors open and Glencadam Single Malt Whiskey are available on the market.

How does Glencadam Single Malt taste?Glencadam single malts are heavy, spicy with fruity aromas and often have a tendency to flavor flavors of cream and forest berries.

The Glencadam distillery is rather unknown because its malt whiskeys were mainly used for the blending industry. Before 2009 there was only a 15 year old single malt as an original bottling. Since 2009, the new owner has been offering Angus Dundee Glencadam as a complete single malt line. Since the takeover by Angus Dundee, all Glencadam single malt whiskeys have been bottled at 46% vol. Without cold filtration and without color additives. Angus Dundee’s master blender is Lorne Mackillop.

How is Glencadam whisky produced?Glencadam is one of Scotland’s smaller distilleries, producing up to 1.5 million litres of alcohol produced annually using a traditional mash tun, 6 stainless steel washbacks and two stills.

Despite its proximity to the South Esk River, the water used for the whisky is pumped from Loch Lee, which is about 8.7 miles away. No other Scottish whiskey distillery pumps its production water from a source further away. The water is pumped through a pipeline into the basement of the distillery. Water is taken from the Barry Burn for the cooling processes. Glencadam obtains the unpeated malt, from a nearby industrial site and grinds it in its purple-painted old Porteus Mill.

The wort is drawn into one of 6 stainless steel washbacks, each with a capacity of 28,000 liters. Some of the fermentation tanks have lids made of wood, some made of stainless steel. The warm word is cooled to 22 ° C before fermentation is started with the addition of yeast. The fermentation produces not only heat (34 ° C) and carbon dioxide, but also the desired alcoholic liquid, the wash, which can then be distilled. The entire fermentation process at Glencadam only takes 48 hours.

The two small onion-shaped stills each with a volume of 14,000 liters stand side by side in a small stillhouse. The shape of the stills has not changed in the years since the first two pot stills in 1825. After the first distilling process in the wash stills (14,000 liters), the liquid, the “low wines”, has an alcohol content of 23% vol. The second distillation in the spirit stills (14,000 liters) gives the separated new make with 65 to 75% vol. The stills have a special feature: the gooseneck (lyne arm) on which the distillate condenses during the distilling process does not go off at a right angle, but points upwards at an angle of 15 degrees. This makes the character of the distillate milder and softer. Glencadam uses a wide range of barrels to mature from Port wine casks, sherry casks and ex-bourbon casks stored in its own eleven warehouses.

In the past Glencadam’s production has been mainly directed into the Ballantine’s and Stewart’s Cream of the Barley blends. Then in 2005 the distillery launched its first single malt a 15 year old.

Since 2009 and a subsequent expansion in 2010 an extensive range has been introduced aged; 10, 12, 14, 15, 21, 25 and 30 years. For the most part these are port and Sherry cask finishes.

Although there is some skepticism about exactly when the distillery was established, it is generally accepted the distillery was founded by George Cooper in 1825, shortly after distillation was legalised in Scotland under the Excise Act of 1823. Five years earlier than Glencadam, the North Port (Brechin) Distillery was founded in 1820 by the three brothers David, John & Alexander Guthrie.

In 1827, only two years after production started, the management of the site was taken over by David Scott. In 1837, unable to find a buyer for Glencadam, Scott mothballed the distillery. Glencadam lay silent until 1852, when Alexander Miln Thompson purchased the site. The Glencadam Distillery Company was formed in 1857.

In 1891 the Glasgow based blending company Gilmour Thompson & Co acquired Glencadam and the malt whisky produced became a core part or their Royal Blend (reportedly a favourite of King Edward VII). The distillery enjoyed a quieter peiod of production not changing hands again for over half a century.

In 1954 Andrew Stevenson and Harry Southwell sold Glencadam to Canadian group Hiram Walker (who took over the Strathisla distillery at the same time). Hiram Walker launched a major refurbishment and modernization of Glencadam, upgrading the site and adding two brand new stills in 1959. Allied Lyons (later Allied Domecq) acquired Hiram Walker, and thus Glencadam in 1987. Alas the distillery was mothballed by due to over-production in 2000.

The distillery resumed production under Angus Dundee Distillers (ADD) in 2003, who purchased Tomintoul at the same time. Angus Dundee were able to resume operations only two months after the purchase, as Allied Domecq had left the Glencadam distillery in excellent condition. Happily under the leadership of ADD Glencadam has gone on to relesae an almost dizzying number of bottlings, and has started to become more visible as a brand.

Glencadam factsheet

Glencadam timeline:.

1825 : The distillery is founded by George Cooper

1827 : David Scott

1852 : Alexander Miln Thomson buys the distillery

1857 : Glencadam Distillery Co. is formed

1860 : Wallace & Scott

1867 : Glencadam Distillery Co.

1890 : James Ferguson & Sons

1891 : Acquired by Gilmour, Thomson & Co. Ltd., Glasgow, who traded as Glencadam Distillery Co.

1954 : Bought by Hiram Walker & Sons (Scotland) Ltd.

1959 : Modernized by Hiram Walker & Sons (Scotland) Ltd. Two stills. Licensed to George Ballantine & Sons Ltd.

1987 : Allied Lyons buy Hiram Walker

1994 : Allied Lyons change names to become Allied Domecq

2000 : Glencadam is Mothballed

2003 : Angus Dundee Distillers plc buy the distillery from Allied Domecq

2005 : A 15 year old bottling is introduced

2008 : Glencadam 10-year-old and a redesigned 15-year-old are launched

2012 : Glencadam 30 Year Old is released

2015 : A 25 year old bottling is released

Can I tour Glencadam?

Yes Glencadam distillery is tourable. On Trip Advisor the distillery has been rated as excellent by 3 of 3 tours to date. This gives Glencadam an overall rating of 5.0

Latest reviews

We had a fantastic Distillery visit and were totally blown away with their single malts. Douglas was amazing. A real hidden gem of the Distillery world. As yet you can't just turn up but need to be organised in advance by contacting the Distillery for a tour only on a Tuesday or Thursday but well worth the organisation as it's a rare opportunity to have a tour with the Manager or production team you wont be disappointed!

Thanks David, for taking time to show us round this hidden gem. I love to visit the less well known distilleries and this one didn’t disappoint. We were shown every part of the process and treated to a few tastings to highlight the craft of the team who work so hard to produce this fine dram. Keep up the good work guys.

An amazing tour of a distillery that that started in 1825 and still uses traditional methods to create their Single Malt. Tours are restricted to a small group, ours being just two people. We learnt so much about how the final flavour is created by techniques from the malting process to using copper during distilling. We would recommend this tour for anyone visiting Brechin or the Angus area.

Glenburgie»

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Willistead Manor is ready for Christmas, and you're invited for a tour

Holiday tours begin sunday, dec. 4.

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Willistead Manor is once again welcoming visitors to tour the Walkerville jewel, decked out for the holiday season. 

Each room of the manor gets its own theme for the holidays, and teams work to bring their ideas to life. 

Connie Pitman is president of the group Friends of Willistead, the group that takes on the holiday tours with the city and partners. She says decorating the grand property is a big effort. 

"It is quite an undertaking to say the least," she said. "We began really months ahead of time and we have to look at each room ... I'll tell you, it's a lot fo moving pieces but we have a lot of help in the process."

• Bright Lights returns with 'take it all in' theme

Teams look at each room, deciding on how they want it to look. They then get to work buying any new decorations needed, then start the work. 

Pitman said some interior designers are involved, and the City of Windsor workers help to put up trees on the property. 

"It's about ... a solid four days of work to get the job done," she said. 

The annual holiday program was on hiatus during the pandemic, and Pitman said they're expecting a very busy year for 2022. 

"To be honest, everybody was so excited to have Willistead open again, we've just been working night and day," she said.

Coach house history on display

Willistead's coach house will be open for visitors as well. 

Opening in July of this year, the coach house has recently been restored and features historical artifacts of Hiram Walker's family, and two dresses of family members, said Pitman. 

"Edward and Mary Walker hosted 'At Home' parties, filling Willistead with folks to celebrate and make memories together," said Christopher Lawrence Menard, cultural development and Willistead Manor co-ordinator, in a press release from the city. 

• Windsor to unveil Hiram Walker statue as part of birthday celebrations
• Whisky barons, a family curse and visits from Al Capone all part of Walkerville's colourful past

"Today, we honour that tradition through our 'At the Manor' series of poetry readings, live arts performances, themed dinners and more. Willistead Manor has always been and will always be a community gathering place — a backdrop for so many significant life moments."

Willistead holiday tours run Sundays, Dec. 4, 11 and 18 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesdays Dec. 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the door. 

Breakfast with Santa is also happening.

More information can be found on the city's website here . 

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Willistead Manor

Willistead Manor is a 36-room mansion nestled within a 15-acre park, that offers gracious accommodations for weddings, receptions, meetings, and other special events. Willistead Manor was built in 1906 for Edward Chandler Walker, the second son of Hiram Walker, founder of the world-renowned distillery. Managed by the Department of Parks, Recreation & Culture, and Facilities, Willistead Manor offers seven uniquely designed rooms to rent for special events. Public tours available at select times during the summer and winter. Call for private tours with groups of 25 or more.

Holiday Tours offered in December. Tour one of Windsor’s most elegant mansions all decked out in its holiday finest. An unforgettable experience for all.

Summer Tours: 

The City of Windsor invites you to tour historic Willistead Manor along with the new Coach House Historical Exhibition on select Tuesdays and Sundays in July.

Remaining public summer tours of Willistead Manor and the Coach House Historical Exhibition are being offered as follows:

• Tuesdays, July 11, 18 and 25, 2023, from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Sundays, July 16 and 23, 2023, from 1 to 4 p.m.
• Cost is $6.25 for adults, $5.25 for students and seniors, and $2.75 for children 12 and under.
• Reservations are not required in advance.
• Tickets are to be purchased on-site upon arrival at the Coach House, using cash, debit or credit.

Summer tours include the full main Manor House; the Paul Martin Gardens; and the Coach House Historical Exhibition, which shares the story of Hiram Walker, the Walker family and legacy, the formation of Walkerville, Edward and Mary Walker, construction and history of Willistead Manor, and much more. This permanent exhibition is supported by the Charleigh Charitable Trust, the Walker descendants, Willistead Manor Inc., the Friends of Willistead, and the City of Windsor.

New this year, the Friends of Willistead offer an assortment of Willistead-themed keepsake items available for purchase (cash only) as part of the tours. The Friends of Willistead are a non-profit volunteer organization in the Windsor that has been in existence for over 40 years. Working alongside the City of Windsor, they are committed to the preservation, restoration and interpretation of Willistead Manor, and are dedicated to the promotion of public awareness and appreciation of the manor as part of Windsor’s unique cultural and artistic heritage.

Willistead Manor was built in 1906 for Edward Chandler Walker, the second son of Hiram Walker, founder of the world-renowned distillery, and Edward’s wife, Mary Elizabeth Griffin Walker. Albert Kahn, a noted Detroit architect of the day, built three buildings on the 15-acre estate: the Manor House, the Coach House, and the Gatehouse. With a design created in the 16 th Century Tudor-Jacobean style of an English manor house, construction of the main building began in 1904. No expense was spared in the materials or labour. Edward and his wife Mary moved into Willistead Manor in 1906. In naming the estate, Edward commemorated his older brother Willis, who had died some years before. Edward lived in Willistead Manor until his death in 1915. He was buried in St. Mary’s churchyard across the street from his property on Niagara Street. Five years later, the Walker Family deeded Willistead Manor to the Town of Walkerville. Upon amalgamation of the Border Cities in 1935, the City of Windsor inherited this magnificent gift from the past. Over the years, the Willistead Manor has been a public library and an art gallery. Today, the 36-room mansion is a perfect location for weddings, receptions, theatre performances, poetry readings, and other special events.

The 2023 Willistead Manor Summer Tours are presented in partnership between the City of Windsor and the Friends of Willistead.

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