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Aberlour Distillery Aberlour Distillery

The distillery is situated at the end of the main street in the village of Charlestown of Aberlour in the heart of Speyside distilling country. Built in 1826, the distillery has thrived in spite of being burned down twice.
The spring waters in the grounds were once used by St Dunstan to baptise converts to Christianity.
Some of the spirit is matured in sherry casks, the rest in Bourbon wood. The two spirits are carefully blended to give Aberlour its finely calculated balance between the sweet roundness of sherrywood and the malty delicacy brought out by the Bourbon wood. The whisky is slightly peated.
Auchroisk Distillery Auchroisk Distillery

Pronounced "Othroysk", the name means ‘Ford across the Red Stream’. The distillery lies on the Mulben Burn, which flows into the Spey. The first distillation was in 1974, with the ‘Singleton’ appearing twelve years later.
The distillery has won many awards for its unique design, including one from the angling foundation "for not incommoding the passing salmon".
Balmenach Distillery Balmenach Distillery

Situated near Cromdale in the hilly countryside of the upper reaches of the Spey and Avon, the distillery has been mothballed since 1993. The distillery officially dates from 1824 when a visiting excise man suggested to the farmer that he should apply for a licence for 'yon peat-shed', after enjoying his company and illicit 'dram'.
The distillery was one of the first to be established after the Excise Act, staying in the hands of the Macgregors until the 1920's, when Government restrictions on the use of cereal crops restricted whisky production and an associated downturn in the market.
Balmenach has been a popular blending whisky, only recently being released as a single malt.
Balvenie Distillery Balvenie Distillery

The distillery shares the same site as Glenfiddich at Dufftown in Banffshire.
The distillery was established in 1892 using inexpensive second-hand equipment from Glen Albyn and Lagavulin distilleries to use barley from the family farm.
It is one of the few distilleries that still operates a floor-malting process, supplying about 15% of the distillery’s requirements.
Waste heat from the adjacent Glenfiddich distillery is used to heat the 4 pairs of stills.
The whiskies being sweet, rich and malty, almost liqueur-like, were once known as "The Ladies’ Dram", but, gentlemen, they are so marvellous that it is worth considering "The Sex Change".
Banff Banff
Banff distillery, owned by Diageo, was built just a mile outside Banff, on the seaside North of Speyside, in 1824 by James Mc Killigan and closed in 1863 then rebuilt at a site in Inverboyndie
Called Mill of Banff its name was changed to Inverboyndie Distillery.
It was destroyed by fire in 1877, bombed in 1941, damaged by an explosion in 1953 and ravaged by fire in 1991
Only a few desolate warehouse buildings are left, but the whisky is still available.
Benriach Distillery Benriach Distillery

Situated in Elgin, close to the better known Longmorn Distillery, which is under the same ownership.
The distillery dates from the 1890's with modernisation in 1960's and 70's.
The whisky is not well known as a single malt, being used as a blending whisky. It has only recently been released under its own label.
Benrinnes Distillery Benrinnes Distillery

The distillery, located at Aberlour, takes its name from the dominant ben in the area. There has been a distillery on this site since 1826, with the present buildings constructed in 1956.
Benrinnes uses a form of triple distillation, producing a spirit of about 76%. Here, there is an opportunity to see the traditional worm-tubs with spirals of copper piping immersed in cold water acting as condensers.
Water is taken from the snow-melt fed burns running over extremely slow eroding granite, and is, therefore, almost pure.
Benromach Benromach
Benromach was built in 1898 north of the railway station at Forres and operated until the early 1980's.. The distillery was purchased by Gordon & MacPhail in 1993, who started to refurbish the site in 1997. The fist spirit was run off in the Autum of 1998.
Cardhu Distillery Cardhu Distillery

The distillery is situated at Knockando, Aberlour in Banffshire and is built on the site of a productive illicit still run by a John Cumming. John Cumming was well known as a distiller and smuggler, with a lengthy string of convictions behind him. He leased Cardhu Farm in 1811, making whisky from the start, at a time when distilling was an important part of farming life. The distillery was licensed in 1824. Distillation was continued using his primitive equipment until 1884 when the new distillery was built. The old, worn out stills were sold to a Mr. Grant for £120, and became instrumental in establishing Glenfiddich.
In 1893, Cardhu was sold to Johnny Walker of Kilmarnock, securing this important source of the ‘heart’ of the biggest selling brands in the World.
The malt-barns, the office and the kiln of the 1884 distillery remain, with the rest being refurbished in1960.
Coleburn Coleburn

Coleburn distillery is situated near Elgin in Morayshire. Built in 1897 by John Robertson & Son Ltd., who wre blenders in Dundee. It was sold in 1916 to Clynelish Distillery Company Ltd., and transferred to D.C.L., and in turn to Scottish Malt Distillers in 1930. It had two stills and was licenced to J & G Stewart, from Edinburgh, when it was closed in 1995.
Bottled at 57.3%.
Convalmore Convalmore
Convalmore distillery was built in 1894 by Peter Dawson close to the river Fiddich. The distillery was named after the Conval Hills, where the water from the whisky was obtained. The whisky was in demand by blenders including James Buchanan, who bought the distillery in 1906.
The distillery was ravaged by fire on 29 October 1909. Rebuilt in 1910, the distillery finally closed in 1985
Cragganmore Distillery Cragganmore Distillery

The distillery, situated at Ballindalloch in Banffshire, was established by John Smith in 1869 after he had gained considerable experience in whisky distilling by managing the Macallan, Glenfarclas and Glenlivet distilleries.
The distillery was the first to make use of the new railway system and in 1887 the first ‘whisky special’ left Ballindalloch station with 16,000 gallons. The event is recorded on the label of the 12-year-old.
The distillery still uses worm-tubs to cool the distillate.
Craigellachie Distillery Craigellachie Distillery

Located in the village of Craigellachie near Aberlour in Banffshire, the distillery opened in 1891. The original was demolished in 1964/65 when the new distillery was built. Only part of the warehouse, floor maltings and some workers accommodation remain from the original construction.
Dailuaine Distillery Dailuaine Distillery

Meaning ‘green valley’ and pronounced ‘Dal-oo-ayn’, the distillery is situated at Carron, about a mile south of Aberlour. It was established in 1851 as a part of the farm activity on the 100 acre farm of Carron Mains, which is still productive and attached to the distillery.
The distillery was rebuilt in 1884, most of which was lost in a fire in 1917.
Dallas Dhu Distillery Dallas Dhu Distillery

Located close to the ancient town of Forres in Morayshire, the distillery was established in 1899, with very little change since. The distillery was closed in 1983, but has been retained in full production mode as a living museum. Considered to be a perfect example of a Highland distillery, it has become the responsibility of the Scottish Historic Buildings and Monuments Department and was reopened to the public in 1988. Well informed ex-distillery workers act as guides for the distillery tours.
The ‘Marie Celeste’ of distilleries, everything is in place and in full working condition, looking as though it could go into production at any time.
Dalwhinnie Distillery Dalwhinnie Distillery

Dalwhinnie is the Scotland’s highest distillery at 350m above sea level, being located close to the A9 at Dalwhinnie. It is an extremely exposed site, which is frequently covered in snow blown from the surrounding mountains.
‘Dalwhinnie’ means ‘meeting place’, and is at the junction of a number of drove roads used to drive the Highland cattle to the Trysts in the Lowlands. The Tryst in Crieff being one of the most important.
The buildings have contrasting white walls and black roofs, alluding to the connection with Black & Whyte blended whisky.
Established in 1898, it was originally called the Strathspey Distillery, with the site chosen to allow closest access to the uncontaminated cold waters of Lochan an Doire-uaine. The company immediately went into liquidation and the new owners changed the name to Dalwhinnie.
The distillery can store enough raw materials to allow a month’s production to insure against being snowed in.
Drumguish Distillery Drumguish Distillery

Pronounced ‘Drum-geesh’ Located at the junction of the Spey and Tromie rivers, a few miles east of Kingussie, a distillery was first built on the site in 1895 and called Speyside. This distillery was dismantled before the first World War.
George Christie, a whisky blender, built a new distillery that opened in 1993.
The first single malt bottling was called Drumguish, after the exact location of the distillery. Subsequent bottlings are called Speyside.
Dufftown Distillery Dufftown Distillery

Pronounced ‘Duff-ton’, Dufftown takes its name from the local laird James Duff, the Earl of Fife. James Duff set out the town from 1817 onwards to give work to local men returning from the Napoleonic Wars.
The distillery , one of seven in the town, was set up in a converted meal mill in 1896. The original buildings are still in use, changing little in external appearance, apart from the addition of the ‘pagoda’.
Glenburgie Glenburgie
Originally called Kinflat, the distillery was renamed after the nearby Burgie castle
Glendronach Distillery Glendronach Distillery

Glendronach Distillery is situated at Forgue, on the B9001, about 10 miles east of Huntly, set amongst the rich Aberdeenshire farming country. Established in 1826, it still operates according to the traditional methods of whisky manufacture. It has its own floor maltings and pagoda headed malt kiln. The fermentation vats are wooden, the stills are coal-fired and the distillery grows some of its own barley.
It was one of the local lairds, the 5th Duke of Gordon, that was responsible for the 1823 Excise Act, which resulted in the licensing of distilleries and the end of illicit distilling.
Glendullan Distillery Glendullan Distillery

One of the Dufftown distilleries, it was commissioned in1897. Extensive remodelling took place in 1962 and a second distillery was built alongside in 1972.
The original distillery was mothballed in 1985.
Glendullan was a favoured whisky of King Edward VII, and was recently chosen by the Speaker of the House of Commons as her special whisky.
Glenfarclas Distillery Glenfarclas Distillery

Situated on the slopes of Ben Rinnes near the village of Marypark in the Ballindalloch area, the distillery was commissioned in 1836 and has belonged to the Grant family since 1865. Glenfarclas means ‘ valley of the green grass’.
It is one of the biggest and most productive of the Speyside distilleries, producing outstanding malts, which are very highly thought of in the trade.
The site is quite exposed, therefore sufficient raw materials for one month’s production are stored in Winter to insure against extended periods of snow drifting.
Glenfiddich Distillery Glenfiddich Distillery

One of the Dufftown distilleries, it produces the biggest selling single malt in the World. Glenfiddich was the first single malt to be marketed outside Scotland, the consensus within the trade being that single malts were too austere for the ‘foreign’ palate.
The distillery has been in the Grant family since it was commissioned in 1887, producing its first whisky without a single customer.
Visitors to the distillery can observe the complete process of whisky production including bottling. The distillery claims that its whisky is ‘chateau-bottled’. All associated work is carried out on site, the distillery employing its own coopers and coppersmiths.
The traditional coal-fired stills are still in use. The stills are small, and the principal maturing cask is plain oak, although a small amount is matured in sherry-wood.
Other distilleries owned by the company are Balvenie and the recently built Kininvie (1992).
Glenglassaugh Distillery Glenglassaugh Distillery

Established in 1875, the distillery was purchases by the present owners in 1890’s. The production was very spasmodic until 1960 when the distillery was rebuilt. It has stayed in production, except for a short period in the 80’s, until the present.
The still necks have round bulges, allowing a degree of reflux distillation to take place. This process produces a lighter spirit.
The distillery is located at Portsoy on the Banffshire coast. Portsoy was a popular meeting [place for smugglers in the early 19th Century.
Glen Grant Distillery Glen Grant Distillery

The distillery is situated at the end of the main street in Rothes, Morayshire. It was built in 1840 by the brothers John and James Grant, who had had some prior experience of distilling and smuggling. A second distillery, Glen Grant No 2, was built across the road in 1898. The ‘whisky pipe’ fed spirit across to be merged with the flow from the other side..
Glen Grant No 2 closed in 1902 to be reopened in the mid 60’s as Caperdonich, but closed again 8 years later..
Glen Grant has been sold as a single malt from the start of the 20th Century, and was well known throughout Scotland. The company quickly followed the Glenfiddich example and marketed abroad. It is now the best selling single malt in Italy..
Considered as one of the ‘greats’, with its properties of drinkability with a dash of distinction opening up the enthusiasm for single malts to many people.
Glen Keith Distillery Glen Keith Distillery

Located in Station Road, Keith, Banffshire, Glen Keith distillery was established on the site of an old corn mill in 1957. This was the first major investment in distillery building since the halcyon days of the 1890’s..
Later innovations were the introduction of gas fired stills and computer control for some aspects of the production process..
Originally triple distillation was used to ensure a very light, smooth and delicate distillate for blending. Double distillation was introduced in 1970.
Glenlivet Distillery Glenlivet Distillery

Prior to the Excise Act of 1823, there were over 200 illicit still operating in the Livet glen. The whisky was so popular that King George IV arranged to be supplied with the illicit drink..
After the act was passed, George Smith’s application to build was the first to be granted, allowing him to claim the right to use the name ‘The Glenlivet’. The definitive article is only used on official bottlings from the parent company..
The distillery is located 4 miles from Ballindalloch in Banffshire.
The present distillery was established in1880..
It is now the best selling single malt in America.
Glenlossie Distillery Glenlossie Distillery

Located at Thornshill, about 2 miles south of Elgin in Morayshire, the distillery shares a site with Mannochmore which was built in 1971. Glenlossie was opened in 1876. There was extensive fire damage in 1929, which restricted development for a while.
Glen Moray Distillery Glen Moray Distillery

Located at Elgin in Morayshire, the distillery is a converted brewery. It is built in a square forming a central courtyard in the traditional farm style, from which distilleries evolved. The conversion took place in 1897, but closed in 1910. It was bought over by the owners of Glenmorangie in 1920 and production restarted using the same facilities. Increased demand required some expansion in the post war years.
Glenrothes Distillery Glenrothes Distillery

Located at Rothes in Banffshire, the distillery was completed in 1878 and overhauled in 1966.
Glentauchers Glentauchers

Situated on the Eastern edge of Speyside, this distillery was founded in 1898 by James Buchanan, famous for the Black and White blend.
Imperial Imperial
Located at Carron, directly on the River Spey, Imperial Distillery was closed in 1999.
Inchgower Distillery Inchgower Distillery

Inchgower is situated close to Buckie, on the Moray Firth coast. It was established in 1871 and expanded in 1966.
The whisky is more coastal, with its astringency.
Knockando Distillery Knockando Distillery

The distillery enjoys a picturesque site on a wooded bank of the river Spey, about half-way between Grantown-on -Spey and Charlestown of Aberlour. Built in 1898, the downturn in the whisky industry resulted in it being sold to the present owners in 1904. It has been in constant production since, winning the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement in 1985. The billionth bottle of J & B Rare to be produced was presented to the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, at the ceremony.
Knockdhu Distillery Knockdhu Distillery

Built in 1894 by DCL specifically to supply whisky for the blenders Haig, the distillery was located at Knock, Banffshire in order to draw water of exceptional quality from the spring. The scale of production was such that a railway station and sidings were built solely to service the distillery.
The distillery closed in 1983, but was purchased by Inver House and re-opened in 1989 when the whisky was relaunched as An Cnoc. Cnoc being the Gaelic spelling of Knock. A unit of the Indian Army was billeted at the distillery from 1940 to 1945, when the distillery housed a slaughterhouse to allow the Halal preparation of their food.
Linkwood Distillery Linkwood Distillery

The distillery is located on the Lossie, close to Elgin in Morayshire. It was established in 1821 by Peter Brown, the factor of Seafield Estates, naming it after the family home. They have been able to retain its Victorian character during expansions and renovations. There is a very traditional approach to the industry. This was exemplified when a manager in the 1930’s refused to "remove a cobweb" incase any change in the environment would affect the finished product..
Major renovations took place in the 1870’s, 1962 and in 1971, when a second unit was added..
The original site stopped production in 1985.
Longmorn Distillery Longmorn Distillery

Built on the site of a grain mill dating back to 1600, the distillery is situated on the A941 about 3 miles south of Elgin. It was built in 1894 and retains much of its Victorian character. There is a water wheel and steam engine on show. The water wheel was used to power the rummagers that were used to prevent the solids from sticking in the wash stills.
Macallan Distillery Macallan Distillery

The Macallan is considered by some to be the most perfect single malt. The company does try to reach perfection at all stages from the choice of grain to the control of all stages of the process.
Macallan were the first to take steps to guarantee their supply of sherry casks, which are exclusively used to mature the spirit. They commission new oak casks in Jerez, in Spain, which are used are used for ageing sherry for two or more years. The barrels are shipped whole to the distillery.
If expansion is required, extra stills of the same size and style are built rather than building larger stills.
The distillery is located just north of Craigellachie in Banffshire.
Until recently The Macallan was essentially 'local' whisky, but is now known throughout the whisky drinking World. A nine-year-old is bottled specifically for the Italian market.
MacDuff Distillery MacDuff Distillery

Located in the town of MacDuff, across the Deveron estuary from Banff, whose trading history goes back to the 12th Century..
It is a modern distillery, being commissioned in 1960..
The single malt from the distillery is labelled Glen Deveron, after the river. The MacDuff name is used by independent bottlers.
Mannochmore Distillery Mannochmore Distillery

Located at Thornshill, about 2 miles south of Elgin in Morayshire, the distillery shares a site with Glenlossie and was built in 1971, forming a two-distillery unit.
Miltonduff Miltonduff

Close to Pluscarden Priory, which is still used by Benedictine monks, the distillery was modernised in the 1970's and is used in Allied blends
Mortlach Distillery Mortlach Distillery

The distillery was the first of those built at Dufftown, being opened in the early 1820's. It had a fairly inauspicious start. The distillation equipment was removed, and the building used as a meeting place for members of the Free Church of Scotland when they awaited the building of their church. It spent some time as a brewery before being re-equipped as a distillery, producing 'The Real John Gordon'. One of the early employees was William Grant, who established Glenfiddich..
The new distillery built in 1964 was quite sympathetic to the original style, retaining a 'turn-of-the-century' feel.
The still arrangement is unusual in that they operate six individual stills of different sizes, resulting in a complex process of combining the distillates from two spirit safes.
Worm tubs, located on a dias outside the still house, are still used to condense the spirit.
Pittyvaich Distillery Pittyvaich Distillery

One of the new distilleries in Dufftown, it was built by Bell's in 1975.
Royal Brackla Distillery Royal Brackla Distillery

One of the few allowed to use the 'Royal' prefix, which was due to King William IV's particular liking for the whisky and was called 'The King's Own Whisky'..
Founded in 1812, it is situated between the Findhorn and the Moray Firth at Cawder near Nairn on the Morayshire coast. At the time he complained that he was surrounded by whisky drinking people, but could not sell much of his own. This was mainly due to the volume, quality and price of the illicit whisky of his competitors.
Royal Lochnagar Distillery Royal Lochnagar Distillery

The 'Royal' prefix reflects Queen Victoria's liking for the whisky. It is reported that she used it to lace her claret. Located at the foot of Lochnagar, near Crathie, it was the second Lochnagar distillery. The first was built by an illicit distiller in 1826, but like so many of his contemporaries, he had trouble with his previous colleagues. Aggrieved at his conversion to legitimacy, they burned down the distillery. It was rebuilt, so that in 1845 Begg had to build his distillery on the south bank , calling it New Lochnagar. The original had closed by 1860. .
The Royal connection was achieved by Begg impudently inviting the Royal Party to visit the distillery, but advising them "to be there before 6p.m. the next day", otherwise they would miss the opportunity. It would appear that the invitation was accepted and they became the first of a long line of dignitaries to visit the distillery..
The distillery was rebuilt in 1906, and then in 1963.
Speyburn Distillery Speyburn Distillery

The distillery, situated in the Glen of Rothes just north of Rothes, has a claim on the most picturesque setting for a distillery. It was opened in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year of 1897. The company was so keen to produce a spirit in that year that distillation started before the distillery was completed. Due to the restrictions of the site, the distillery expanded upwards resulting in unusually tall buildings. The external appearance has not been much altered during modernisation, retaining its Victorian charm..
There is some concern about working the night shift, due to the site once being used as an execution site.
Strathisla Distillery Strathisla Distillery

Located at Keith in Banffshire, the distillery has claims on being both the oldest and prettiest distillery. It was established in 1786 as a farm distillery, called Milltown distillery. It had to be substantially rebuilt following a fire in 1876, when it took on its current appearance. The spring water was previously used by Dominican monks for brewing in the 12th century.
Tamdhu Distillery Tamdhu Distillery

Built in 1986 by a consortium of blenders, to be sold on only three years later to Highland Distillers, it is located close to Knockando in Morayshire. The distillery still operates a Saladin Box germinating system, which supplies its total requirement. Locally cut peat is burned to provide smoke that is mixed with pre-heated air to dry the malt, giving the whisky a degree of smokiness.
Tamnavulin Distillery Tamnavulin Distillery

Located at Tomnavoulin, near Ballindalloch in Banffshire, the name is a corruption of the Gaelic meaning , 'the mill on the hill'. The distillery was built in 1966 on the site of a wool carding mill, which is now the distillery reception centre..
It is a modern distillery and demonstrates the use of heat recovery to save energy, by using the hot spirit to preheat the incoming liquor.
Tomatin Distillery Tomatin Distillery

Tomatin sits on the A9 about 16 miles south of Inverness..
Tomatin is now one of the biggest and most modern of the distilleries, producing 12 million litres annually from 23 stills. The systems are computer controlled to allow one operator to control all stills simultaneously..
A failed elver farm was installed to make some use of the waste heat..
Tomatin used to supply the blending industry, but has recently started to concentrate more on their own malts and blends..
Distillation has taken place in the area since the 15th century, but the present operation dates back to 1857.
Tomintoul Tomintoul
After years of searching for the purest natural water in Scotland we discovered the Ballantruan Spring.
For millions of years this water has been flowing through the mountain side near Tomintoul, the highest village in the Highlands.
In the heart of the Speyside-Glenlivet region, the Tomintoul Distillery was built to capture this unique resource
The Tomintoul Distillery is situated in the Glenlivet Estate at Ballantruan on the east side of the River Avon and in the valley between the Glenlivet Forest and the hills of Cromdale.
The distillery was built in the mid 1960's and the location was chosen for the exceptional quality of the Ballantruan Spring water which is used exclusively in the production of the Tomintoul malt whisky.
The distillery is owned by Angus Dundee Distillers Plc.

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