Cameron Bridge Grain Distillery was founded by the Lowland distiller John Haig in 1824 near Windygates in the Kingdom of Fife.The distillery takes its name from the bridge that crosses the River Leven on the distillery grounds. The grain distillery in Leven near Glenrothes, Fife, merged with five other whisky companies to the DCL, the Distillers Company Ltd. which was founded in 1877. It was John Haig‘s cousin Robert Stein from Kilbagie Distillery in Clackmannanshire who invented the first continuous or column still system (tested in 1826 and patented in 1827). „The first continuous still was located at Kilbagie. By 1826 Stein had obtained permission to run trials at his brother’s distillery at Kirkliston.“ (see www.kennetpans.com).

Stein‘s invention was ground breaking for the Scottish whisky industry and made foundations for the development of Blended Scotch. John Haig had the vision of success and  John Stein, Robert‘s brother installed a patent still at Cameronbridge in 1830-31.

The first ever commercial grain whisky was produced by Cameron Bridge Distillery in 1831. The design was enhanced, refined and patented in 1830-1 by the Irish distiller Aeneas Coffey from Dock Distillery in Dublin. Distilling became more efficient, easier and less costly. The invention was the birth of the Blended Scotch Whisky. Some people call him the Henry Ford of Whisky Industry.

Extensive refurbishment was carried out from 1989 to 1992 at Cameronbridge. In 2000 the distillery reopened after a complete renovation with a production capacity of 30 million litres of white spirits per year. Today, Cameronbridge produces about 65 million litres of grain spirit per year.

The new „Forth Project“ will increase the production capacity to 105.000.000 litres by 2013. A Biomass Energy Plant will also be installed converting spent grains and pot ale into energy and supply about 90% of new energy needed by the distillery. The reduction of carbon dioxide emmissions will be cut back by 95%. A production water recovery system will also be saving about 30% distillery waters. The waste water will be treated that the effluent disposal into the nearby River Forth will be cut down to 1 % compared to the system of the past. A neighbouring hospital is planned to be supplied by waste heat (see: www.scdi.org.uk).

The distillery produces grain whiskies, there is a distillery bottling Cameron Brig (no age statement) available. Distillery employees, however, get a 12 year old Cameron Brig Single Grain, which is said to be the basis of the Johnnie Walker 12 year old expression. The distillery plant creates the grain spirit used in brands such as Johnnie Walker, J&B, Bell’s, Black and White, Haig and White Horse.

It also produces the grain-neutral spirit for Archers, Pimm’s, Smirnoff, Tanqueray and Gordon’s Gin. Cameron Bridge Grain whiskies are also bottled by the independent Bottlers like Cadenhead, Duncan Taylor, Signatory, Scottish Malt Whisky Society and others. There is also a distillery bottling called Cameronbrig (a Single Grain Whisky with no age statement) available.

Site General Manager: Jim McCowan (2011)

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