Our Story

Whisky Is In Glasgow’s Blood

Whisky runs through the city’s industrial heritage like the River Clyde itself, which is why our gleaming new distillery at the old Queens Dock has a touch of the inevitable about it.

It was here at the Pumphouse, where the Clydeside is located today, that Customs & Excise kept a watchful eye on exports of liquid gold coming down the river, loaded at these very docks.

The John Morrison exhibit in the Morrison & Mason room, part of the self-guided section on the tour

John Morrison, of Morrison & Mason

While researching the history of the Pumphouse, we discovered our ancestor John Morrison had a hand in building the Queen's Dock in 1863. One whole generation before our family discovered whisky, he was busy building half the city!

John also helped in raising Loch Katrine, the source of the pure soft water for our single malt whisky today. The Morrison family's connections to the River Clyde and its docks came full circle with construction of the Clydeside in 2017.

The Old Pumphouse - the Clydeside distillery

The Pumphouse

The Clydeside Distillery sits today in the old Pumphouse building, which once controlled all the comings and goings for the famous Queen’s Dock by pumping hydraulic power for the swing bridge.

For many years, it bore witness to ships leaving the docks, carrying whisky destined for every continent around the globe. Today, it's once again part of Glasgow's intricate whisky history.

New Make Spirit running through the spirit safe at The Clydeside Distillery

Our Family Believes In Making Things Well

The Morrison family is inextricably linked to the iconic Bowmore, Auchentoshan, and Glen Garioch distilleries, once known as the Morrison Bowmore portfolio. With the Clydeside, we brought together the best of the old and the new, using our time-tested, traditional techniques to make an exquisite new single malt Scotch whisky.

The Clydeside craftsmen distill our spirit by hand, using the skills our family has honed over generations. We're incredibly humbled by the opportunity to produce Glasgow's first single malt whisky in over a century.

Stanley P. Morrison, founder of Morrison Bowmore Distillers and father of our Chairman Tim Morrison.

Founding ancestors

Whisky runs down our family line for over a century, starting with Stanley P. Morrison who became one of Glasgow’s most successful whisky brokers. In 1925, he helped establish T. William Walker & Co and purchased whisky merchant, A. D. Rattray. By 1936, he’d also acquired the prestigious Chivas Brothers with partner Robert Lundie.

Famously, one day in Grand Central Hotel in 1963, Stanley P. Morrison overheard rumours that Bowmore Distillery was up for sale – and bought it the very same day, laying the foundation for Morrison Bowmore Distillers. Seven years later, he bought Glen Garioch Distillery.

Old Clutha boats on the River Clyde passing the old Pumphouse building, which now houses the Clydeside Distillery

Tim Morrison, Chairman of The Clydeside Distillery, with a glass of whisky

Generations of Whisky-Makers

Sons Tim and Brian followed suit. Following an apprenticeship at Dalmore Distillery, Tim, together with Brian, entered the family business and purchased Auchentoshan Distillery.

Tim went on to buy back A.D. Rattray and launched a new range of exclusive bottlings.

The first cask of Clydeside Single Malt Whisky

Clydeside Dreaming

In 2017, Tim Morrison opened The Clydeside Distillery, fulfilling his ambition to revive distilling single malt whisky once more in Glasgow. Through the process, he also helped restore the dock his great-grandfather built, bringing the family's legacy full circle.

On the 15th of October 2021, The Clydeside Distillery launched its very first Single Malt Whisky.

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From Nov 1st 2023 to Feb 29th 2024, our winter opening hours commence. The Visitor Centre opens daily at 11am and closes at 5pm. First tour 11am. Last tour 4pm.