St. Magdalene Whisky
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St Magdalene is a lost Lowland single malt distillery from Linlithgow, also known historically as Linlithgow. Its origins are often traced to the eighteenth century, and the distillery operated for more than two hundred years before closing in 1983, during a difficult period for the Scotch whisky industry.
The distillery eventually became part of the Distillers Company Limited, whose successor interests now sit within Diageo. St Magdalene was not widely bottled as a single malt during its working life, with much of its whisky used for blending, but its reputation grew strongly after closure through Rare Malts releases, Diageo Special Releases and independent bottlings from remaining casks.
As a whisky, St Magdalene is often more characterful than the light, gentle Lowland stereotype might suggest. Mature examples can show citrus, wax, grass, honey, malt, herbs and soft spice, with older casks developing more complex notes of tropical fruit, polished oak, tobacco, leather and a dry, slightly austere edge.
St Magdalene now sits among the most respected closed Lowland distilleries. Its former buildings have been converted, its remaining stocks are finite, and the best surviving bottlings offer a rare glimpse of a whisky style that has become increasingly difficult to replace.
