| Country | scotland |
| Region | Lowland |
| Established | 1799 |
| Owner | Diageo (successor to Distillers Company Limited / Scottish Grain Distillers) |
| Type | Grain |
| Number of stills | Coffey (patent/column) stills — two from 1852, expanded to three by 1980 |
| Visitor center | No |
| Status | Closed |
| Phone | n/a |
Carsebridge Distillery is a former Lowland Scotch grain whisky distillery located near Carse Bridge, about a mile from Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland. It was founded in 1799 by John Bald and was closed (mothballed) in 1983, with the site later cleared. Carsebridge grew from a small malt distillery into one of Scotland's largest grain distilleries and was a founding member of the Distillers Company Limited (DCL) in 1877.
John Bald leased a field near Carse Bridge from the Earl of Mar in 1798 and founded the distillery in 1799, initially producing Lowland malt whisky. The site was chosen for its access to coal, water from Gartmorn Dam, and proximity to Alloa harbour. The business passed through the Bald family, operating as John Bald & Co. from 1813. In 1852 Carsebridge shifted from malt to grain whisky production, installing two Coffey (continuous/patent) stills, and by the time Alfred Barnard visited in 1886 he described it as covering ten acres with twenty washbacks and possibly the second-largest grain distillery in Scotland. In 1877 Carsebridge became one of six Lowland grain distilleries to found DCL, later part of Diageo. A major fire in 1902 halted production for nine months. The distillery was modernised in 1956 and transferred to Scottish Grain Distillers in 1966. By 1980, following further expansion and the installation of a third Coffey still, Carsebridge had become the largest grain distillery in Scotland.
Despite its 1980 expansion, Carsebridge was mothballed in 1983 amid a wider Scotch whisky industry downturn and surplus grain stock, closing shortly before what would have been its 84th anniversary of continuous operation. Most of the distillery buildings were stripped and demolished in 1992, though its bonded warehouses continued to be used for maturation for decades afterward, with the last stock removed and the site fully vacated by 2019. Nearly all remaining structures were subsequently cleared for a housing development around 2022, though the Grade II listed former manager's house and two other buildings (Ochil House and Harvey House) have been preserved, and the historic Napoleon's Pillar monument remains on the site. One of Carsebridge's original Coffey stills is reportedly still in use today at Diageo's Cameronbridge Distillery. Original Carsebridge single grain bottlings, largely from independent bottlers, are now collectible among enthusiasts of lost Scottish distilleries.
Carsebridge distillery is located at Carsebridge Road, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, FK10 3LU, Scotland.
Carsebridge distillery was founded in 1799.
Carsebridge distillery is owned by Diageo (successor to Distillers Company Limited / Scottish Grain Distillers).
Carsebridge distillery is from Lowland, scotland.
You can buy Carsebridge whisky at Glenbotal.co.uk. We currently stock a selection with free UK delivery on orders over £99.
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About Glenbotal
The idea of Glenbotal came to us naturaly: as whisky lovers, we were always on the lookout for new experiences in the whisky world. That’s why we created Glenbotal and became our very own first customers. We buy unique and hard to find spirits from auctions, ballots, and private collections. Then, we share them with a small circle of friends and people who can appreciate a good dram.