LITTLEMILL LOST Lowland Distilleries are getting even more precious following the loss of Littlemill to fire in September. Littlemill was arguably the oldest distillery in Scotland having been built in 1772. Although silent for ten years and with no plans to distil again, the historic and listed building has been completely destroyed after some youngsters started a fire one Saturday afternoon which took the fire brigade 24 hours to bring under control. Only Auchentoshan, Bladnoch and Glenkinchie distilleries are capable of production from what was once the most active whisky producing region in Scotland. The lowland region includes Edinburgh and Glasgow where there were many distilleries producing vast quantities of whisky, but with speed and volume being the objective of the distillers, there was a low regard to quality and they fell out of favour with the blenders. Littlemill whisky was never much sought after, being characteristically light with a marshmallow taste. Loch Fyne Whiskies still has bottles for sale and maturing stocks are still being held in cask by the owners at Loch Lomond Distillery—despite a large blaze at their warehouses a few years ago!