Isle of Arran Whisky

History of Scotland's Newest Malt Whisky Distillery

Glendronnach

Founded 1826 by John Allardyce.Historically contributed to the Teacher's blend but has been mothballed since the late 1990s.The single malt is a golden, medium dry 12 year old, quite spicey and with good length.

Fettercairn

Founded 1824 near to the village of Fettercairn. Most of the output goes to Whyte & Mackay.

Blair Athol

Founded 1798. Historically connected with Arthur Bell & Sons but now under Diageo ownership.Famous for its 12 year old malt about half of which is sold through the distillery shop.

Oban

Founded 1794 by Hugh Stevenson.Unusually located in the middle of the town.This remains one of the smallest distilleries in the Highlands with just a solitary pair of stills.The spirit is a fairly lightly peated, quite smoky and with a faint prickle of spice which has now been eleveated to the status of 'Classic Malt'.

Edradour

Smallest distillery in Scotland, established 1825.Produces 90,000 litres per annum.It was Edradour whisky which sank with the SS Politician in 1941 and led to the book and film 'Whisky Galore'.

Aberfeldy

Founded 1989 by John Dewar and Sons.Famous for association with the White Label blend. As a single malt it produces a scent of vanilla and boiled sweets with luscious, oily flavours.

Speyside Cooperage

The ancient art of coopering. See skilled coopers and apprentices at work.

Ben Nevis

Founded 1825 by 'Long John' Macdonald and built beneath Britain's tallest mountain.Now the most northerly distillery on Scotland's West Coast. Most of the malt goes into the 'Dew of Ben Nevis' blend. However, a small amount is bottled as a single malt.This distillery will allow the public to buy a hoggshead direct.

Glenturret

Founded 1775 as the Hosch Distillery, Crieff.One of the oldest distilleries in the Highlands if not the world.Closely associated with the Famous Grouse brand.

Deanston

Founded 1966 near Doune in Perthshire.Acquired by Burns Stewart which also owns Tobermory on Mull. Deanston's own malt is bottled in various maturities with the unpeated 12 year old providing a smooth-as-honey flavour proving very popular.

Glengoyne

The first Highland distillery founded in 1833 by George Connell. Now owned by the Robertson Trust which links Glengoyne to sister brands The Macallan, Highland Park and Famous Grouse.The 10 and 17 year old Glengoyne are both quite flowery,unpeated whiskies with the sweet smack of American oak.

SPEYSIDE

Founded 1990 and otherwise known as Drumguish. With two stills producing 600,000 litres of alcohol p.a.this is the second-smallest distillery in Scotland. Output will go into blending with some retained for bottling as a 10 yr old single malt.

BALMENACH

A Speyside distillery founded 1824 by James McGregor.Now owned by Inver House and has six stills.

Benriach

Built 1898 in Speyside by John Duff.After 3 years went dormant for 65 years until reactivated in the 1960s.Operates in conjunction with sister distillery, Longmorn. The single malt is light and flowery.

Balblair

Founded 1790 by James Mckeddy in Ross & Cromarty.Was the oldest distillery in Scotland with history going back to the 1670s.Rebuilt in 1894 but closed for 30 yrs after World War 1.Output was used in Ballantine's Finest. Now owned by Inver House.

Allt'A Bhainne

Founded 1975 near Dufftown.The name is Gaelic for 'the milk burn' which is close by.With four stills can produce 4 million litres p.a..Most of the production goes into blends but the occasional independent bottling produces a light, floral malt.

Aberfeldy

Foundxed 1898 in the Tay Valley.This distillery has become something of a shrine to the White Label blend following opening of the 'Dewars' World of Whisky' in 2000.

Glen Garioch

Founded 1798 in Old Meldrum, Highlands.Historically connected with VAT 69.As a single malt the peat content has been reduced to release the underlying flavours of heather blossom and a faint hint of spice.

Royal Lochnagar

Founded 1845 on Deeside.Visited by Queen Victoria in 1848.Much of the early production went into VAT 69 but now used in premium expressions of Johnnie Walker for the blue and gold labels.The standard 12 year old is an amber,sweet scented malt with a curiously rich buttery flavour.

Scotch Whisky Tours

the body which protects the interests and integrity of Scotch Whisky worldwide.

Dalmore

Founded 1839 in Ross-shire. Capacity was doubled in 1966 to 8 stills the shape of which is considered eccentric. Product is a major contributor to the Whyte & Mackay blend. There is also a 12 yr old single malt nwhich has a certain spicy richness.

Ardbeg

Scotland's peatiest malt.

Celtic Malts

the site of whisk(e)y guru, Riannon Walsh.

Loch Fyne Whiskies,Inveraray

Site of Richard Joynson's renowned whisky shop in Inveraray, Argyllshire

Glenburgie

Last survivor of Speyside's wester fringe

Glen Moray

Noted for its superb blend, Bailie nicol jarvie.

Miltonduff

Built beside the ancient pluscarden priory near elgin and first licensed in 1824

Linkwood

Effectively two distilleries whose spiritis vatted together to produce a complex single malt whit a burst of inctial sweetness finishing quie savoury.

Longmorn

A top-class ditillery dating from 1894

Aultmore

This malt occasionally appears as part of diageo's 'distillery Malts' range and the occasconal independent bottling.

Strathisla

A photogenic distillery whose future is secure at heart of chivas regal - the world's top selling deluxe blend.

Strathmill

A pretty late victorian distillery whoise production goes into blends.

Auchroisk

Built in 1986 for J&B rare. Bottled as a single malt 'the singleton of Auchroisk'

Glenrothes

Dating from 1878 this Speyside distillery can pump 5 million litres of alcohol in a good year. Popular with blenders it features in Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark.

Glen Grant

Founded 1840 on Speyside by members of Clan Grant, Glen Grant 5 year old is the biggest selling whisky in Italy

Craigellachie

Founded on Speyside in 1891 b y a partnership of blenders. Long history with the White Horse blend.It occasionally appears as a luscious, lightly smoked malt.

MACALLAN

Founded in 1824. Provides one of the finest malts in Speyside, if not Scotland-a dark, almost mahagany coloured malt, with a rich, spicey nose and sumptuous in the mouth.

BENRINNES

Founded on Speyside in 1834. Produces a relatively rare 15 year old which is full-medium bodied,sweetish after dinner malt.

DAILUAINE

Founded on Speyside in 1851. Most of the output of the 6 stills goes into Diageo's blends but can also be found as a single malt under its 'Distillery Malts' range.

Tamdhu

Founded on Speyside in 1897 output is a key ingredient of Famous Grouse.Tamdhu makes a fragrant, quite sumptuous single malt which trails off in a wisp of smoke.

Cragganmore

Founded on Speyside in 1869 it now has four stills. Features in Diageo's 'Classic Malts' collection.

Tormore

Founded on Speyside 1958-60 by the American company Shemley Indistries to be the spiritual home of the Long John brand. Eight stills produce a malt which at 10 years old is delicate, dry, almost flinty whisky.

Balmenach

Founded on Speyside in 1824 by the McGregors who were related to Compton Mackenzie of Whisky Galore fame. Was mothballed 1993-8 but now in production under new owners, Inver House.

Glen Ord

Founded 1837 in Ross-shire. This distillery has had an erratic history. Now has 3 stills and on-site malting. The single malt is a finely tuned 12 yr old that starts with a caramelised sweetness and seems to dry in the mouth.

Dalwhinnie

Founded 1987 in Inverness-shire. Located at 1000 ft. above sea level it has the twin features of being the highest place in Britain making whisky and at just 6 degrees centigrade mean annual temperature it is the coldest inhabited place in Scotland. Historically, the output was used as a key filling in the 'Black & White' blend.

Royal Brackla

Founded 1812 in Morayshire and obtained a royal warrant in 1835.

Macduff

Founded 1962 in Banffshire by a consortium.Now has 4 stills. As a 12 yr old and sold as 'Glen Deveron' it is considered a Speyside. Since 1972 Macduff has provided the heart and soul of the owner's eponymous blend.

Ardmore

Founded 1898 in Aberdeenshire and connected with the Teacher family. The 8 stills can produce 3.5 million litres of alcohol per annum. Most of the output goes into Teacher's Highland Cream. Some is bottled as a luscious, quite oily single malt.

Isle of Jura

site for Isle of Jura Single Malt

Whisky Heritage

site of the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre

Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Check this site for news and benefits

Royal Mile Whiskies

in Edinburgh's historic Royal Mile - one of Scotland's best independent whisky stores.

Glendullan

Founded on Speyside in 1897 and rebuilt in 1962.As a straw-coloured 12 year old, the product has a madium rich malty character with the sweet smack of oak.

Laphroaig

Laphroaig's own site.

Glenmorangie

Founded in 1843 in Tain,Ross-shire. Now produces Scotland's favourite malt. Demand is so strong that 95pct is bottled as Glenmorangie leaving just 5pct for blending.

Spirit of Speyside

Site for all news and updates of the annual whisky fest on Speyside.

GlenLossie & Mannochmore

GlenLossie's malt is more fragile than its fresh, fulsom neighbour. Manochmore prudules a black whisky called "Loch Dhli"

Inchgower

Main role is to provide a little edge to the gentler speyside and Perthshire malts that contribute to Bell's 8 year old.

Speyburn

Classic Speyside know for its 10 year old singlw malt.

Caperdonich

Founded in 1897 but always under the shadow of Glen Grant. This Speyside distillery was rebuilt in 1965.

Glen Spey

Dating from 1884 this distillery was rebuilt in the 1970s. Output features in J&B but very occasionally as a single malt.

Cardow/Cardhu

Founded in 1824 by the whisky smuggler, John Cumming.The production supplies the heart of Johnnie Walker.The Spanish are fond of the sweet,silky smooth,unpeated flavours of Cardhu.

Glenfarclas

Founded on Speyside in 1836 and has remained in the same family's hands since 1865. The single malt is available as a 10.12.21,25 and 30 year old. There is also the famous 105 cask strength which, at 60pct alcohol by volume, is one of the strongest whiskies on the market.

Glenlivet

Founded on Speyside in 1824, Glenlivet remains one of the top selling single malt whiskies in the world and is very popular in the U.S.A. There are two principal products: a sherry scented 12 yr old that is pale in colour, gentle to the taste and a much richer, more succulent 18 year old that has won many awards.

Bruichladdich

see them making the whisky via webcam

Tullibardine

nestles in the village of Blackford at the foot of the Ochil Hills in Perthshire,

Glen Elgin

Usually found in the white horse blend and occasiunally appears as a 12 year old honeyd floral singel malt.

Glen Keith

Built 1958. All the output goes into blends, notably chivas regal and passport.

Glentauchers

Six stills with Pagoda roofs. This distillery has had a chequered history.

Balvenie

Founded on Speyside in 1892.Most production goes into blends but also as a 10 and 12 year old single malt.

Mortlach

Founded on Speyside in 1824 by James Findlater. It was here that William Grant served his 20 yr apprenticeship.Produces a beguiling and perfumred malt.

Aberlour

Founded on Speyside in 1879. The malt plays a leading role in Clan Campbell, France's most popular Scotch Whisky.As a single malt it has won praise as a supple, creamy and faintly spicy 10 year old.

Knockando

The name is Gaelic for 'the dark hillock'. Founded in 1898 it enjoyed success as a key filling for J&B. As a single malt Knockando is ripe and flowery on the nose,quite sweet and creamy in the mouth,drying alittle on the tail.

Highland Park

Founded in 1798 in the Highlands (Orkney).This distillery has a long and illustrious history. The product is a moderatley peated 12 yr old dram imbued with the scent of orange peel, smoke and heather-honey.

SCAPA

Founded 1885 on Orkney.The distillery was upgraded in 1978. with just two stills, this distillery produces a rare, salt-flecked, soft centred malt.

Tomatin

Founded 1897 in Inverness-shire.This distillery has 23 stills, making it the largest malt whisky distillery in Scotland.Normally,only half the stills are working.As well as supplying whisky for the 'Big T' blend, the distillery produces a nicely, toffee-scented, quite peppery single malt in various ages from 10 yrs upwards.

Dallas Dhu

Founded 1899 in Morayshire but now a whisky museum following cessation of distilling in 1983. The water supply was erratic and the operatiion relied on a waterwheekl for some of its power until 1971.

Benromach

A small speyside distillery dating from 1898

Glenglassaugh

Rarely seen as a single malt, its main rule is behind the scenes in such blends as famous grouse and cutty sark.

Glenfiddich

Founded on Speyside in 1887. Produces the world's biggest selling single malt. To cope with demand there are now 29 stills.

Dufftown

Founded on Speyside in 1896. A key filling in the Bell's blend, Dufftown occasionally appears as a green,herbal,slightly oily single malt.

Imperial

Founded 1897. This distillery has had an erratic history. Since 1989 its big stills have produced a malt used in blending.

Braeval

Founded on Speyside in 1972, most of the output goes into the big Seagram blends but can also be found as a single malt.

Tomintoul

Founded on Speyside in 1964 in the highest village in the Highlands.It now stands on the banks of the River Avon. Outout forms part of the Whyte & Mackay blend and is also bottled as a single malt which is considered more delicate and herbal than the other 'Glenlivets'.

Old Pulteney

Founded 1826 in Caithness. This distillery has had an erratic history. Was used as a constituent of Ballantines. In 1997 the owners launched Old Pulteney as a 12 yr old single malt.

Clynelish

Founded 1967 in Sutherland.However, its predecessor was established in 1819.

Teaninich

Founded 1817 in Easter Ross. There are now effectively two distilleries on site whose spirit is vatted together before being filled into a cask.As a 10 yr old in Diageo's Distilleery Malt range it is a lively, gently peat-smoked, citrus flavoured single malt.

Visit Scotland's Distilleries with catswhiskerstours

posted by Nigel Cole @ 8:06 AM