Charles Doig (1855-1918) was a Scottish architect and engineer based in Elgin, best known for his work designing and modernizing whisky distilleries throughout Scotland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Doig’s involvement in the whisky industry began in the 1880s, when he joined an Elgin surveying practice before starting his own firm in 1890. As the whisky boom of the late 19th century drove distillery owners across Speyside and beyond to expand and rebuild, Doig became their architect of choice, ultimately working on more than 50 distilleries across Scotland.
One of Doig’s most famous distillery designs was for the Strathmill distillery in Keith, Scotland. This distillery, which is still in operation today, was built in 1891, and features a number of architectural elements that are characteristic of Doig’s style. The distillery features a Scottish baronial-style architecture, which is characterized by turrets, towers, and battlements.
Another notable distillery designed by Charles Doig is the Benrinnes distillery near Aberlour. This distillery, which was built in 1826, was completely rebuilt in 1896, and is considered to be one of the most beautiful distilleries in Scotland. The Benrinnes distillery features a number of architectural elements that are characteristic of Doig’s style, including turrets, towers, and battlements, as well as Indian-inspired architectural elements, such as arched windows and intricate detailing on the exterior.
Doig’s influence on the design of whisky distilleries was not limited to the exterior of the buildings. He also designed the interior of the distilleries, ensuring that the production process was as efficient as possible. This was an important consideration, as the distilleries were designed to produce large quantities of whisky in a relatively short amount of time. Doig’s designs allowed for the smooth flow of materials and people throughout the distillery, which helped to increase production and reduce costs.
One of the best known improvements Doig made was the addition of the so-called Doig ventilator. The design of this was inspired by Asian pagodas. The design replaced traditional rotating metal cowls, which were intended to draw smoke upwards but caught the wind poorly; the Doig ventilator instead allowed air to be pulled in from all directions, making it far more efficient. Additionally, they looked far more aesthetically appealing.