Name: Aberlour
SKU: 0300739
Price: 75 GBP
Availability: InStock

A square bottle of 1980s Aberlour, from the days when they were still using the 'Glenlivet' suffix. 12 years old.

March 2026

April 2026

Charity Auction

As you’re reading this blog and are possibly a customer of Just Whisky Auctions, it’s a fair assumption that you’ve visited more than a few distilleries and taken their tour.

That being the case, your guide almost certainly paused to point out the malt mill. More often than not, it’s a Porteus mill, though you might see the occasional Boby and even the odd Buhler mill.

But if it’s painted in a distinctive, unshowy shade of dark red then what you looked at was a Porteus mill (we’ll come back to the Boby mills shortly).  They’re sturdy little things, standing four-square in the mill room, ready to receive another load of malt, quiet occupants of an unobtrusive corner of the distillery that just get on with their job in a modest and understated way.

If the guide didn’t pause and point it out, a Porteus mill would never shout or draw attention to itself, you feel; happy to do an honest day’s work and then await the next consignment of malt to be turned to grist.

At this point, your guide quite probably explained that the mill was quite old and that the Porteus firm had gone out of business, outlived by the durability and simple excellence of a product so good and so enduring that it broke the company.

So well made that they required relatively little maintenance and with little or no demand for new machines both Porteus and Boby closed down many years ago.  They were outlived by their equipment and undone by the slump in whisky production of the 1970s and 80s and the ruthless consolidation of the brewing industry, meaning fewer and fewer small independent breweries.  Sadly, quite a few mills will have been scrapped which, until recently, hasn’t been a problem.

But it’s worth taking a closer look at these tough and functional looking machines and, if you do, there’s a good chance you’ll see a modest plaque somewhere on the side carrying a telephone number and the name Ronnie Lee.

Some years ago I noticed this on Jura and then, shortly afterwards, at Tobermory distillery and then again at a number of Speyside distilleries. So I began asking various guides ‘Who is this Ronnie Lee?’  No one knew – but as soon as I asked some real production people (as opposed to the friendly guides who for the most part are essentially a PR front and equipped with a marketing script) the pieces of a fascinating story fell quickly into place.

Well it turns out that, in a world of tattooed, bearded Brand Ambassadors with their hipster tweed caps, and rock-star Distillery Managers who jet from whisky show to whisky show, Ronnie Lee is a quiet hero. Yet he doesn’t give master classes, doesn’t blog and he’s definitely not part of the fashionable crowd that increasingly follow whisky these days.  But he – together, these days with son Gareth - are the men who mends the mills.  And, if you think about it, without their expertise there would be no whisky.

Working from their modest base near Chepstow, they run Euro Mechanical Engineering working as freelance millwrights.  As such, they spend most of their working days life in maintaining, servicing and, on occasion, restoring Porteus and Boby mills for the brewing and distilling industry.

Their surroundings are as far removed from whisky’s new image of sophistication, glamour and luxury as you might conceivably imagine, yet they carry out vital work as one of an elite group of engineers who keep these vintage machines in working order. Unsung and unheralded, they are essential to the smooth and effective operation of much of the distilling industry, here and internationally.

In fact, they work for Diageo, Chivas Brothers, Glenmorangie, Highland Distillers and Ian MacLeod Distillers, as well as a number of independent breweries and distilleries as far flung as Sweden, Italy and even the USA. If you want a vintage malt mill, or need one restored, Ronnie Lee is the man you call.

And that brings us to a fascinating twist in the story.  Some years ago, Ronnie acquired all the plans for the Boby mill when that firm closed down. With access to that unique archive, it was Euro Mechanical Engineering’s proud boast that, in theory, they could build a brand new Boby-style mill from scratch based on the original blueprints but updated for greater efficiency and cleaner running.

But why would you, when the originals have a working life of a century or more? Well, basically, they are desperately hard to find and with new distilleries and small breweries being built at an unprecedented pace, there’s a need for equipment of established high quality with a proven heritage.  Even the shiniest of new state-of-the-art distilleries may be discreetly supplied by a 50 or 60 year old machine which, come to think of it, is something quite amazingly heart-warming. But there just aren’t enough to go around.

And so it has come to pass that a new Boby mill has indeed been built and is now heading off to its eventual home in a soon-to-be-opened whisky distillery (which is another story, which we’ll come to in a moment).

The mill, of 4-5 tons capacity, is the product of 12 month’s work by Ronnie and Gareth Lee. The original design has been improved, Gareth telling me that while the exterior closely resembles an old-style Boby, the gears have been done away with, the roller bearings switched to a spherical shape and a double-edged synchronized belt fitted. If, like me, that’s double Dutch to you, I’m assured it means cleaner running (no oil), greater energy efficiency and potentially faster running speeds if desired by the operator. Everything has been built from the ground up with a local foundry providing custom-made castings for the bearings, which were then hand finished by Gareth.

But who has commissioned this work and where is this marvel of skillfully modernized vintage engineering to be found? Let’s hear it for the new owners, the family-owned and independent Ian Macleod Distillers, well-known for their Glengoyne and Tamdhu single malts, the imaginative reopening of Rosebank and their Edinburgh Gin brand.  They are also partners in the proposed Laggan Bay project which, if everything goes to plan, will be Islay’s twelfth distillery.

So the Boby is destined for a Hebridean home? Well, no. In fact, it is travelling around 4,000 miles to Una, a town in the southwestern Himachal Pradesh state in northern India where Macleod Distillers are currently building on a greenfield site.  The distillery, expected to be operational later this year, is designed to produce around 1.0m litres of spirit annually of Indian whisky.

Beyond that, Ian Macleod were tight-lipped though my own lengthy on-line research turned up an Environmental Impact report from the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board.  From that very comprehensive document we learn that “The project proposes to produce Malt Spirit, part of it matured for at least 2 years and above years for supplies to IMFL [that’s Indian-Made Foreign Liquor] industry for blending in various proportions and part of the matured malt spirit will be matured for more than 3 years to be called as Whisky under International norms and bottled as Indian Single Malt whisky for the Indian and export market”.   Indian Single Malt Whisky from Ian Macleod Distillers – that’s something not yet widely reported and quite a feather in the cap of relatively small independent Scottish distillers.

According to the report, the total cost is approximately £5m – quite the bargain by UK standards. 
Naturally I enquired as to the price of the mill and naturally, and quite correctly, Gareth Lee would not be drawn into the specifics. But he did hint that if you wanted one for your project you could expect to wait some 12 months or so (they’re busy) and expect to write a cheque for rather more than  £100,000.

So this is a mill that grinds slowly but is exceeding fine; evidently a labour of love and a source of great pride – and why not, because as Gareth assured me, “it will be working long after I’m in the ground.”  I wonder if in fifty or more years curious visitors will be regaled with the story – I certainly hope so.

Their surroundings are as far removed from whisky’s new image of sophistication, glamour and luxury as you might conceivably imagine

In our inaugural Blog entry, Guest writer Ian Buxton explores the seemingly unglamorous distillery mill. The unsung hero of whisky distilleries.

The Distillery Mill

Historical

In this intriguing piece, Gavin D. Smith delves into the relationship between taxes and the Scotch Whisky industry.

1823 EXCISE ACT

Useful Info

buy_sell_with_the_worlds_most_trusted_whisky_auction_2792165_032353.webp

Bidding Closes Monday 16th from 8pm

Auction Now Live!

aultmore_allt_mor_2018_hogshead_cask_no_173_complete_cask_2790345_838900_267730_730360.webp

232.3 Litres

65.51%

Complete Cask Held In Bond At Lowland Bond

Aultmore (Allt Mor) 2018 Hogshead Cask No.173

aultmore_allt_mor_2018_hogshead_cask_no173_complete_cask_held_in_bond_ar_lowland_bond_2792164_928320.webp

aultmore_allt_mor_2018_hogshead_cask_no_173_complete_cask_2790345_838900.webp

aultmore_allt_mor_2018_hogshead_cask_no_173_complete_cask_2790349_419250.webp

aultmore_allt_mor_2018_hogshead_cask_no_173_complete_cask_2790347_715630.webp

aultmore_allt_mor_2018_hogshead_cask_no_173_complete_cask_2790348_756850.webp

aultmore_allt_mor_2018_hogshead_cask_no_173_complete_cask_2791543_281158.webp

highland_park_42_years_old_1976_2009_john_scotts_2791015_876466.webp

70 cl

50.3%

2009 John Scott's | Single Cask No.6282

Highland Park 42 Years Old 1976

highland_park_42_years_old_1976_2009_john_scotts_2791016_116797.webp

balvenie_35_years_old_1981_dcs_compendium_chapter_3_801607.webp

43.8%

DCS Compendium Chapter 3

Balvenie 35 Years Old 1981

balvenie_35_years_old_1981_dcs_compendium_chapter_3_2789991_351807.webp

balvenie_35_years_old_1981_dcs_compendium_chapter_3_2789992_747682.webp

balvenie_35_years_old_1981_dcs_compendium_chapter_3_2789993_657539.webp

balvenie_35_years_old_1981_dcs_compendium_chapter_3_2789994_377202.webp

balvenie_35_years_old_1981_dcs_compendium_chapter_3_2789995_683401.webp

springbank_30_years_old_2024_release_2433_562421_008020.webp

2026 Release (25/221)

Springbank 30 Years Old

springbank_30_years_old_2026_release_25221_2792441_827318.webp

springbank_30_years_old_2026_release_25221_2792442_288607.webp

Marks to box & bent hinge.

glenfiddich_1976_private_vintage_queen_mary_2_572311_116641.webp

50.3% vol 

Queen Mary 2 (Signed By Bernard Warner)

Glenfiddich 1976 Private Vintage

glenfiddich_1976_private_vintage_queen_mary_2_signed_by_bernard_warner_2789369_116481.webp

glenfiddich_1976_private_vintage_queen_mary_2_signed_by_bernard_warner_2789370_644925.webp

glenfiddich_1976_private_vintage_queen_mary_2_signed_by_bernard_warner_2789371_628323.webp

glenfiddich_1976_private_vintage_queen_mary_2_signed_by_bernard_warner_2789372_493052.webp

glenfiddich_1976_private_vintage_queen_mary_2_signed_by_bernard_warner_2789373_751855.webp

glenfiddich_1976_private_vintage_queen_mary_2_signed_by_bernard_warner_2789374_478984.webp

macallan_james_bond_18_years_old_2007_diamonds_are_forever_55th_anniversary_release_2791697_786552.webp

45.5%

Diamonds Are Forever 55th Anniversary Release

Macallan James Bond 18 Years Old 2007

macallan_james_bond_18_years_old_2007_diamonds_are_forever_55th_anniversary_release_2791698_064109.webp

Refer to images for general condition

Aberlour Glenlivet 12 Years Old - Pure Malt

The current incarnation is around a mile from the original Aberlour distillery site, founded in 1826 by the Grants who would eventually leave to establish Glen Grant in Rothes. James Fleming rebuilt the distillery in 1879, where it remains on the outskirts of the town. Its history is one of fires, rebuilds and extensions. This explains the assortment of buildings that now form the distillery, owned by Pernod Ricard.

With the number of stills doubled to 4 in 1973 to meet demand, Pernod Ricard moved to purchase Aberlour the year after given its popularity in France. Forever associated with sherry casks, Aberlour continues to be popular thanks to its robust sherry drams and new releases such as the A’bunadh Alba showcasing a new twist for this classic Speyside distillery.

Aberlour

Speyside

Full Size

75 cl

Glenlivet 12 Years Old - Pure Malt

May 2016

macallan_74_years_old_the_red_collection.jpg

42.6%

2020 The Red Collection

Macallan 74 Years Old

macallan_74_years_old_2020_the_red_collection_2790788_055100.webp

macallan_74_years_old_2020_the_red_collection_2790789_192689.webp

No box or certificate included. Please refer to images for condition and fill level.

macallan_36_years_old_1965_fine_rare_miniature_825609_109434.webp

700 ml

56.3% vol

Fine & Rare Cask No. 4402

Macallan 36 Years Old 1965

macallan_36_years_old_1965_fine_rare_cask_no_4402_2790958_373957.webp

macallan_36_years_old_1965_fine_rare_cask_no_4402_2790959_896594.webp

Minor damage to box, refer to images

macallan_the_archival_series_folio_1.jpg

Folio 1

Macallan The Archival Series

macallan_the_archival_series_folio_1_2787688_140702.webp

macallan_the_archival_series_folio_1_2787689_325011.webp

macallan_51_year_old_1948_select_reserve_883906.webp

46.6%

Select Reserve 24th March

Macallan 51 Years Old 1948

macallan_51_years_old_1948_select_reserve_24th_march_2788936_111170.webp

macallan_51_years_old_1948_select_reserve_24th_march_2788937_710335.webp

Minor marks to box

macallan_easter_elchies_2008.jpg

700ml

59.6%

Easter Elchies 2008 Release (Red Ribbon)

Macallan 12 Years Old 1995/6

macallan_12_years_old_19956_easter_elchies_2008_release_red_ribbon_2791361_422984.webp

macallan_12_years_old_19956_easter_elchies_2008_release_red_ribbon_2791362_153268.webp

macallan_easter_elchies_2009.jpg

52.8% vol

Easter Elchies 2009 Release (Green Ribbon)

Macallan 13 Years Old 1995

macallan_13_years_old_1995_easter_elchies_2009_release_green_ribbon_2791365_076871.webp

macallan_13_years_old_1995_easter_elchies_2009_release_green_ribbon_2791366_866636.webp

macallan_distil_your_world_new_york_edition.jpg

49.5%

New York Edition

Macallan Distil Your World

macallan_distil_your_world_new_york_edition_2792298_498471.webp

macallan_distil_your_world_new_york_edition_2792299_008740.webp

macallan_easter_elchies_2013.jpg

55.3%

Easter Elchies 2013 Release (Blue Ribbon)

Macallan 17 Years Old 1996

macallan_17_years_old_1996_easter_elchies_2013_release_blue_ribbon_2791376_355703.webp

macallan_17_years_old_1996_easter_elchies_2013_release_blue_ribbon_2791377_899322.webp

macallan_distil_your_world_london_edition.jpg

57.5%

London Edition

macallan_distil_your_world_london_edition_2792303_978170.webp

macallan_distil_your_world_london_edition_2792304_190349.webp

macallan_easter_elchies_2012.jpg

57.2%

Easter Elchies 2012 Release (Yellow Ribbon)

Macallan 13 Years Old 1999

macallan_13_years_old_1999_easter_elchies_2012_release_yellow_ribbon_2791374_833790.webp

macallan_13_years_old_1999_easter_elchies_2012_release_yellow_ribbon_2791375_561626.webp

Minor marks to ribbon/label

macallan_easter_elchies_2011.jpg

59.7%

Easter Elchies 2011 Release (Purple Ribbon)

Macallan 14 Years Old 1997

macallan_14_years_old_1997_easter_elchies_2011_release_purple_ribbon_2791371_887029.webp

macallan_14_years_old_1997_easter_elchies_2011_release_purple_ribbon_2791372_700449.webp

Minor damage to box

macallan_easter_elchies_2010_433973.webp

52.3%

Easter Elchies 2010 Release (Orange Ribbon)

Macallan 13 Years Old 1997

macallan_13_years_old_1997_easter_elchies_2010_release_orange_ribbon_2791368_969678.webp

macallan_13_years_old_1997_easter_elchies_2010_release_orange_ribbon_2791369_450456.webp

Foxing to label(s)

macallan_1960_gordon_macphail_100_proof_1970s_2789253_718806.webp

26 2/3 fl.Ozs

100° Proof

Gordon & MacPhail 100° Proof (1970's)

Macallan 1960

macallan_1960_gordon_macphail_100_proof_1970s_2789254_256818.webp

Drawer will not close. No sleeve, gloves or transit box.

macallan_distil_your_world_mexico_edition_502678.webp

Mexico Edition

macallan_distil_your_world_mexico_edition_2792308_122266.webp

macallan_distil_your_world_mexico_edition_2792309_538081.webp

Wear to seal area.

speyburn_12_years_old_flora_fauna_794854.webp

Flora & Fauna

Speyburn 12 Years Old

speyburn_12_years_old_flora_fauna_2789311_654968.webp

speyburn_12_years_old_flora_fauna_2789312_909854.webp

balvenie_23_years_old_1993_dcs_compendium_chapter_3_781319.webp

51.9% vol

Balvenie 23 Years Old 1993

balvenie_23_years_old_1993_dcs_compendium_chapter_3_2789986_469700.webp

balvenie_23_years_old_1993_dcs_compendium_chapter_3_2789987_204338.webp

Scuffs to box

macallan_masters_of_photography_mario_testino_purple_edition_349318.webp

Mario Testino Purple Edition

Macallan Masters of Photography

macallan_masters_of_photography_mario_testino_purple_edition_2792374_140360.webp

macallan_masters_of_photography_mario_testino_purple_edition_2792375_087556.webp

Aberlour

Glenlivet 12 Years Old - Pure Malt

Aberlour

Sell Whisky with 0% Commission

How To Buy Whisky?