Banff
Banff Distillery, the first to bear the Banff name, was founded in 1824 by James McKilligan & Co. at Banff Bay, Inverboyndie. Ownership transferred to Alex Mackay in 1837, then to James Simpson Sr. and Jr. in 1852. In 1863, James Simpson Jr. built a new facility at Inverboyndie with superior railway access via the Great North of Scotland Railway and premium spring water from Fiskaidly Farm. The distillery suffered multiple disasters. On May 9, 1877, a major fire destroyed most of the facility except the warehouses. By October 1877, Simpson had rebuilt and resumed operations, keeping a fire engine on site. In 1921, the Simpson family sold part to London's Mile End Distillery Company. In 1932, a subsidiary of Distillers Company Ltd. purchased the entire distillery for £50,000 and immediately halted production. On August 16, 1941, a German Junkers Ju 88 bomber raid destroyed Warehouse No. 12, burning many whisky casks and contaminating local water supplies, reportedly poisoning livestock. Repairs began in winter 1941, but in 1943 the RAF 248 Squadron occupied the site until war's end. Post-war restoration ended tragically on October 3, 1959, when a still explosion during repairs destroyed equipment and damaged the distillery, resulting in a £15 fine for safety violations. Operations resumed but the distillery finally closed in 1983. By the late 1980s, most buildings were demolished; the final warehouse burned on April 11, 1991.
History
History In 1324, King Robert the Bruce granted the town of Banff Royal Burgh status. During the 17th and 18th centuries, many local gentry owned estates there, and the town retains something of a genteel atmosphere to this day. In 1824, Banff's first distillery was built within a mill in the town, but closed in 1863. Its owner at the time relocated the distillery one mile west of the town to Inverboyndie, overlooking Boyndie Bay, to take full advantage of the newly opened railway line. Most of the original buildings burnt down in 1877, but were reconstructed at 'lightning speed' (6 months). The owner, James Simpson & Company Ltd, went into voluntary liquidation during the Great Depression in 1932, and the distillery was temporarily closed after being acquired by S.M.D. While maintaining its external appearance, the distillery was renovated in the 1960s. In May 1983, S.M.D. permanently closed Banff distillery.
Curiosities
During World War II, the distillery buildings were requisitioned as barracks for the King's Own Scottish Borderers, forcing production to halt. On the afternoon of August 16, 1941, an enemy aircraft bombed the distillery, burning down a warehouse—fortunately with no casualties. Witnesses saw whisky barrels blasted into the air, while the remaining oak casks were destroyed to prevent the fire from spreading. The Banffshire Journal reported: 'The explosion was so powerful that even the grazing animals nearby became thoroughly intoxicated.' It is said that ducks swimming in Boyndie Bay were later found along the shore—some dead, some drunk, while cows were too drunk to stand or give milk. In addition to the 1877 fire and the 1941 bombing, Banff Distillery suffered severe damage in 1959 when a still exploded. After its closure, the distillery was dismantled in sections. In 1991, after yet another major fire, the final remaining part of the distillery was demolished.
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