Early in the 1790s, John Bald of Alloa had obtained a lease from James Scott - feuar of Tulliallan - of a brewery, malt barn and kiln for a period of 19 years.^^ In 1795, John converted the works into 'a distillery of whisky'. Tulliallan Distillery, a Lowland malt distillery, was located just over the county border at Blackhall near Kincardine, where he made spirit until distillation was stopped by parliament in 1796.
Tulliallan map showing Peppermill Dam, Blackhall, and Kincardine. Burnbrae locality is also described. - OS map 1861
Bald had previously installed a wooden pipe, three inches in diameter, from Peppermill Dam to supply the premises. In 1793, Robert Stein of Kilbagie Distillery attempted to cut off the flow because he claimed a lease of the water and coal in the area. The landowner, James Erskine of Cardross had let the right, to John Taylor, W.S., who had in turn rented them to the Stein brothers. Bald, meantime offered to pay rent for the water he used at the distillery, and expecting an amicable settlement, he enlarged and improved the works 'at a very considerable expense'.
The rent for water was fixed at £40 per annum. Robert Stein preferred that the water be got from the Mill of Tulliallan instead of Peppermill Dam, and required that the diameter of the pipe be reduced from three to two inches in case of water scarcity. Matters dragged on until 1795, during which time Bald formed the impression that the Steins wanted to be in a position to deprive his rival distillery of water whenever they chose to do so.
To alleviate this situation, in 1795 John Bald entered into partnership with John Primrose, James Scott and Robert Stein, trading as John Bald & Co.^^ this partnership lasted until 1798, when John Bald moved his business to back to Alloa, after signing a lease for land at Carse Bridge, near Alloa. He opened Carsebridge Distillery in 1799.
In 1813 James Bruce made an attempt at making the distillery work. According to official papers, in 1814 the distillery had a 42 gallon wash still,^ meaning it was making small batches of malt whisky.
Following James' tenure, John Primrose returned to take over the reins at Tulliallan, keeping the site open until 1825.
History
1795-1798 - Tulliallan Distillery run by John Bald & Co.
1813-1814 - James Bruce takes a shot at making the distillery work.
1817-1825 - John Primrose
1825 - The Tulliallan Distillery closed.*
Burnbrae Distillery
Burnbrae Distillery existed just down the road at Burnbrae Farm, Kincardine. The site is located at Kirk Street, Kincardine "near the present established church – the house adjoining the latter, now occupied by the tenant of Burnbrae Farm as the farmhouse, being still known as the Distillery House."**
The years of operation for Burnbrae Distillery are not yet known, but they may have overlapped with those of Tulliallan.
References :
^House of Commons Papers and Accounts, Vol. XlV, 1814.
^^An economic History of the Distilling Industry in Scotland 1750-1914 - I.A Glen.
*wormtub.com
**Kincardinehistory.com
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