Girvan Vintage Cask Collection A D Rattray 3cl 1964

The Girvan grain whisky distillery was built by William Grant & Sons in the town of Girvan, South Ayrshire, in 1963. Sourcing water from the river Clyde, its main purpose was to provide a reliable source of grain whisky for use in Grant’s blends.

The distillery was built with unusual speed – the site was in production within nine months of the first brick being laid – after a major disagreement between William Grant & Sons and its previous supplier, Distillers Company Ltd, led to DCL cutting off supplies.

While most of Girvan’s output has always been used to supply blends, of Grant’s and other blenders, a number of single-grain whiskies have also been produced at the distillery. From 1985 William Grant & Sons produced its now-discontinued Black Barrel single grain whisky on the site, while in 2014 a range of age-statements whiskies were released under the Girvan Patent Still label. From 1965 until 1975, Ladyburn distillery also produced single malt whiskies at Girvan for use in Grant's blended whiskies.