How much did a Victorian whisky cost? (And what were they making?)

New historic data source exposes the vast changes in whisky industry of United Kingdom in the twentieth century…

HOW MUCH did a freshly-made whisky cost in Victorian Britain? What types of whiskies were being made? And how do these prices compare with the present day?

For the first time, these questions can now be answered by using WhiskyInvestDirect's new interactive database, writes Leon Kuebler.

Between 1899 and 1970, the Wine & Spirit Trade Record published an annual chart of active distilleries in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the type of whisky produced and, up to 1939, their owners. In most cases, the price of each distillery's new make whisky is also given.

The level of detail given by the Wine & Spirit Trade Record (WSTR) and the length of time over which they were published make these charts a rich source of historic information on the Scotch whisky industry.

Now, using our interactive database, all seven decades-worth of information can be accessed in one place. [Those using mobile devices may need to rotate.]

 

This database gives a vivid insight into the changing nature of the whisky industry in Scotland.

In big picture terms, whisky gradually became cheaper to produce during the 20^th century. Over time, this was made possible by reductions in the cost of utilities, transportation and raw materials and rising economies of scale in major Scottish distilleries.

Our database ends in 1970 – but this trend has continued to the present day. In 1899, a Litre of Pure Alcohol (LPA, modern industry standard unit) of the cheapest Scottish new make grain whisky would have cost the equivalent of around £2.70 today; the cheapest new make malt, £5.02.

On today's date (April 13, 2017), by contrast, one LPA of new make grain can currently be traded at around £1.12, while new make malt can be bought at £2.18.

The database also gives an insight into the impact of warfare on the whisky industry. Aside from 1937, which appears to be missing, the WSTR only did not publish this chart in the last two years of the First World War, the Second World War and the years of post-war rationing (1945-1952). In these years, distillation was either banned or severely restricted.

The impact of wartime grain and fuel shortages was keenly felt in Britain. In 1916, the last year that whisky distillation was allowed during wartime, the average price of new make malt whisky was twice that of 1914. Indeed, the all-time record price for new make whisky was set in this year, when a proof gallon of either Glenlivet or Lochindaal cost 10 shillings – the equivalent of £15.11 today!

Beyond the raw numbers, however, the database illuminates just how much the whisky map of the United Kingdom (not just Scotland, but England and Wales too) and Ireland has altered.

All in all, 232 different whisky distilleries were listed as active at some point between 1899 and 1970: 192 in Scotland, 29 in Ireland, 10 in England and 1 in Wales. Only 97 of these remain active today, with all but two of these located in Scotland.

In the current era of 'world' whisky it is easy to forget that, until the 1930s, there were many distilleries located outside of Scotland. Irish whiskey is, of course, justly famous in its own right, and the full range of Irish distilleries making malt, grain and Irish Pot Still whisky was included by the WSTR until 1939 (and intermittently thereafter). But England also had several active distilleries until the Second World War – and Wales also had one distillery, which made Pot Still whisky.

While many more distilleries survived in Scotland, there were big changes in the types of whisky which they made. Cameronbridge, for example, sent several years simultaneously producing three types of whisky – grain, Irish-style Pot Still, and an unspecified ‘malt’ whisky. Nearby Caledonian was also making both grain and Pot Still whisky in the years 1906-1913. Auchtertool produced both 'peated' and 'unpeated' Lowland malt for most of the pre-WWI years – an unusual distinction, given that most distilleries at this time used peat.

Some types of whisky were more esoteric still. Kirkliston produced Lowland whisky under the name of Glenforth, along with malt whisky distilled in a patent still (now banned by the Scotch Whisky Association, but revived by Nikka in Japan) and a mysterious ‘plain’ malt whisky. In Ireland, Phoenix Park (owned by The Distiller's Company, Ltd., the forerunner of Diageo) spent 1906 producing two types of grain – one 'Irish Style', one 'Scottish Style'. And in England, Bristol distillery made grain, Pot Still and 'Blended' whisky.

The Great War completed altered the whisky industry. While distilleries had closed in the depressed conditions of the 1900s, the pace quickened rapidly after 1918. Most Lowland and Campbeltown distilleries disappeared, along with the oddities of the Victorian whisky world such as multi-product distilleries and those distilleries using patent stills to produce malt whisky.

At the same time, as ownership consolidated in the hands of an ever-smaller number of companies (particularly The Distiller’s Company, Ltd. and Scottish Malt Distillers, its malt-producing subsidiary), prices began to homogenize.

If the Victorian whisky era seems quaint, then that of 1953 onwards is instantly recognisable, dominated as it is by Scottish malt and grain distilleries. It is only in recent years, with the rebirth of 'world' whisky, that the picture has altered once again.

Full table of distilleries featured:

Country	Distillery	Whisky produced	Active today?
Scotland	Aberfeldy	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Aberlour	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Adelphi (Loch Katrine)	Grain | Malt (Type unspecified)	No
Scotland	Albyn	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Annandale	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Ardbeg	Islay Malt	Yes
Scotland	Ardgowan	Grain	No
Scotland	Ardlussa	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Ardmore	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Argyll	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Auchentoshan	Highland Malt | Lowland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Auchinblae	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Auchtermuchty (Stratheden)	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Auchtertool	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Aultmore	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Balblair	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Ballechin	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Balmenach	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Balvenie	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Banff	Speyside Malt	No
Scotland	Bankier	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Ben Morven (Gerston)	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Ben Nevis	Grain | Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Ben Wyvis (Invergordon)	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Benachie (Jericho)	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Benmore	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Benriach	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Benrinnes	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Benromach	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Bladnoch	Lowland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Blair Athol	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Bo'ness	Grain	No
Scotland	Bowmore	Islay Malt	Yes
Scotland	Brackla	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Bruichladdich	Islay Malt	Yes
Scotland	Bunnahabhain	Islay Malt	Yes
Scotland	Burnside	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Caledonian	Grain | Pot Still	No
Scotland	Cambus	Grain	No
Scotland	Cameronbridge	Grain | Pot Still | Malt (Type unspecified)	Yes
Scotland	Campbeltown	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Caol Ila	Islay Malt	Yes
Scotland	Caperdonich	Speyside Malt	No
Scotland	Cardhu	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Carsebridge	Grain	No
Scotland	Clydesdale	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Clynelish	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Coleburn	Speyside Malt	No
Scotland	Convalmore	Speyside Malt	No
Scotland	Cragganmore	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Craigellachie	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Dailuaine	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Dalaruan	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Dalintober	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Dallas Dhu	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Dalmore	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Dalwhinnie (Strathspey)	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Dean	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Deanston	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Devanha	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Drumcaldie	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Dufftown	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Dumbarton	Grain	No
Scotland	Dundashill	Grain | Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Edinburgh	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Edradour	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Esk (Hillside, Montrose)	Grain | Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Ferintosh (Ben Wyvis)	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Fettercairn	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Forres	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Gartloch	Grain	No
Scotland	Girvan	Grain	Yes
Scotland	Glen Albyn	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Glen Coull	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Glen Elgin	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glen Grant	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glen Keith	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glen Mhor	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Glen Moray	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glen Nevis	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Glen Rothes	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glen Scotia (Scotia)	Campbeltown Malt | West Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glen Spey	Speyside Malt | Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glenaden	Speyside Malt	No
Scotland	Glenallachie	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glenburgie	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glencadam	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glencawdor	Speyside Malt	No
Scotland	Glencraig	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Glendronach	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glendullan	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glenfarclas	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glenfiddich	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glenfoyle	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Glenfyne (Glendarroch)	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Glengarioch	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glenglassaugh	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glengoyne	Highland Malt | Lowland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glengyle	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Glenkinchie	Lowland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glenlivet	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glenlochy	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Glenlossie	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glenmavis	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Glenmorangie	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glenochil	Grain	No
Scotland	Glenside	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Glenskiach	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Glentarras	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Glentauchers	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glenturret	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Glenugie	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Glenury	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Grandtully	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Grange	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Greenock	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Hazelburn	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Highland Park	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Imperial	Speyside Malt	No
Scotland	Inchgower	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Invergordon	Grain	Yes
Scotland	Inverleven	Lowland Malt | Malt (Type unspecified)	No
Scotland	Isla (Tay)	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Jura (Isle of Jura)	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Kinclaith	Highland Malt | Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Kinloch	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Kintyre	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Kirkliston (Glenforth)	Lowland Malt | Malt (Plain) | Malt (Patent Still)	No
Scotland	Knockando	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Knockdhu	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Ladyburn	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Lagavulin	Islay Malt	Yes
Scotland	Langholm	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Laphroaig	Islay Malt	Yes
Scotland	Linkwood	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Littlemill	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Loch Katrine (Camlachie)	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Loch Lomond	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Lochhead	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Lochindaal	Islay Malt	No
Scotland	Lochnagar	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Lochruan	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Lochside	Grain | Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Lomond	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Longmorn	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Macallan	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Macduff	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Malt Mill	Islay Malt	No
Scotland	Millburn	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Milton Duff	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Mortlach	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Mosstowie	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	North British	Grain	Yes
Scotland	North of Scotland (Bon Accord)	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	North of Scotland (Strathmore)	Grain | Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	North Port (Brechin)	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Oban	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Ord	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Parkmore	Speyside Malt	No
Scotland	Pollo	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Port Dundas	Grain	No
Scotland	Port Ellen	Islay Malt	No
Scotland	Provanmill	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Pulteney	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Rieclachan	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	Rosebank	Lowland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Saucel	Grain | Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Scapa	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Speyburn	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Speyside	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Springbank	Campbeltown Malt | West Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Springside	Campbeltown Malt	No
Scotland	St. Magdalene (Linlithgow)	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Strathclyde	Grain	Yes
Scotland	Strathdee	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Strathisla (Milton)	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Strathmill	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Stromness	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Stronachie	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Talisker	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Tambowie	Lowland Malt	No
Scotland	Tamdhu	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Tamnavulin	Speyside Malt	No
Scotland	Teaninich	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Tobermory	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Tomatin	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Tomintoul	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Tormore	Speyside Malt	Yes
Scotland	Towiemore	Speyside Malt	No
Scotland	Tullibardine	Highland Malt	Yes
Scotland	Tullymet	Highland Malt	No
Scotland	Yoker	Grain | Silent Malt | Malt (Type unspecified)	No
Ireland	Abbey Street (Londonderry)	Grain	No
Ireland	Avoniel	Grain | Pot Still	No
Ireland	Bandon	Pot Still	No
Ireland	Bishopswater	Pot Still	No
Ireland	Bow Street	Malt | Pot Still	No
Ireland	Bushmills	Malt	Yes
Ireland	Coleraine	Grain | Malt	No
Ireland	Comber (2)	Pot Still	No
Ireland	Connswater	Grain | Pot Still	No
Ireland	Cromac	Pot Still	No
Ireland	D.W.D. [Jones Road]	Pot Still	No
Ireland	Dublin City Distillery	Grain | Pot Still	No
Ireland	Dundalk	Grain | Pot Still	No
Ireland	Glen Distillery	Pot Still	No
Ireland	John's Lane	Malt | Pot Still	No
Ireland	Kilbeggan (Brusna)	Pot Still	No
Ireland	Killowen (Springmount)	Grain | Malt | Pot Still	No
Ireland	Limavady	Pot Still	No
Ireland	Limerick	Pot Still	No
Ireland	Marrowbone Lane	Grain | Pot Still	No
Ireland	Midleton (Cork Distilleries (2))	Pot Still	Yes
Ireland	Monasterevan	Grain | Pot Still	No
Ireland	Nun's Island	Pot Still	No
Ireland	Phoenix Park	Grain | Grain (Irish Style) | Grain (Scottish style) | Pot Still	No
Ireland	Royal Irish	Grain | Pot Still	No
Ireland	Thomas St. (Geo. Roe & Co)	Pot Still	No
Ireland	Tullamore	Pot Still	No
Ireland	Waterside	Pot Still	No
Ireland	West of Ireland (Banagher)	Malt	No
England	Bankhall (Bankhill)	Grain	No
England	Bristol	Blended | Grain | Pot Still	No
England	Derby	Grain	No
England	Hammersmith	Grain	No
England	Lea Valley	Grain	No
England	Thames Bank	Grain	No
England	Three Mills	Grain	No
England	Vauxhall	Grain	No
England	Wandsworth	Grain	No
England	West Ham	Grain	No
Wales	Welsh Whisky Distillery	Pot Still	No