Glen Albyn distillery was founded in 1897 by the Dundee wine merchant James Isle as Highland Esk distillery having been converted from a flax mill.

[2] The distillery was closed during the First World War but reopened afterward.

In 1964, the site was again converted to produce malt whisky and renamed Hillside distillery.

[4] In 1980, Hillside distillery was renamed Glenesk distillery, licensed to William Sanderson & Sons Ltd,.and used in the Vat 69 blended whisky.

[3] In 1985, DLC mothballed the distillery, and in 1996, the stills were removed, and all buildings, except for maltings, were demolished.