The distillery was built as Mill of Rothes in 1878 (the same year as its neighbour Glenrothes) by a local grain merchant James Stuart who was,
at the time, the licensee of Macallan. It changed name to Glen Spey in 1887 when Stuart sold the plant to the London gin producer W&A Gilbey. In time it would add Knockando and Strathmill and the distillery became the ‘home’ of its Spey Royal blend. A merger between Gilbey and the parent company of London-based wine merchant Justerini & Brooks brought the J&B blend into the fold - to which Glen Spey was already providing malts. They then merged with Guinness to form drinks giant, Diageo.
