The History of Talisker
1825
Brothers Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill arrive on Skye from the smaller island of Eigg.
1830
The MacAskills build Talisker Distillery at Carbost on the shore of Loch Harport, despite opposition from the local clergy.
1857
Talisker is leased to Donald McLellan.
1866
Mclellan, bankrupt by 1863, passes over the lease to a Glasgow Agent called John Anderson. Anderson states “There is not a whisky gets a better reputation in the market.”
1880
A better standard of management is brought in, in the form of Alexander Grigor Allan and Roderick Kemp, both upstanding members of Morayshire and Aberdeen society. Having traveled through the region, writer R.L.Stevenson states whisky, in particular Talisker, to be: “The King o’drinks as I conceive it.”
1892
Roderick Kemp sells his share of Talisker, using the money to buy Macallan.
1898
Allan decides to merge with Thomas MacKenzie to form Dailuiane-Talisker Distillery Co. Ltd. By now Talisker is one of the best-selling single malt whiskies in the country.
1900
Success brings improved infrastructure in the form of Talisker’s own pier, tramway and worker housing.
1916
The death of Thomas MacKenzie gives John Walker & Sons and John Dewar & Sons the chance to form a consortium and take over.
1928
A form of triple distillation, originally used and common throughout Scotland is abandoned, though without adverse effect.
1941
Like so many others, Talisker shuts down to conserve barley during the war.
1960
A fire destroys the stillhouse.
1962
The five stills lost in the fire are replaced by replicas still heated by coal.
1972
The original floor maltings are closed and instead the malt comes from Glen Ord Central Maltings in the Highlands.
