Liquid Pin-Up
Distillery Data Overview
Scotch whisky distillery

..................(on 01/06/2008)
 
     01  -  Laphroaig
     02  -  Lagavulin
     03  -  Glengoyne
     04  -  Aberlour
     05  -  Talisker
     06  -  Glenfarclas
     07  -  Glen Grant
     08  -  Longmorn
     09  -  Saint Magdalene
     10  -  Ardbeg

Scotch Distillery Data

whisky

distilleries

 

About Brands
About Regions
About Scotland
Active Distilleries
Silent Distilleries
New Projects

Scotch

whiskey

This 'Distillery Data' section provides profiles for
all active distilleries in Scotland - as well as for a
few distilleries that were closed relatively recently.
 
At least... that's what this section will offer once it
has been reconstructed completely. When you read
this, that isn't the case yet, I'm afraid. Apologies...
The orange overview below has all the 'core data',
but not all distillery profiles are finished just yet.

You can find an overview of all the reconstructed profiles on the Active Distillery Profiles page.
 
Please note that this section of Malt Madness focuses on Scotland in particular.
The Lex-icon on the Malt Maniacs site provides a complete overview of all malt whisky distilleries
in the rest of the world. Until well after the year 2000, the total number of active MALT whisky
distilleries in Scotland was still larger than that of the entire rest of the world put together.
However, many small new projects in Europe and the USA have now changed that.
As far as grain whisky is concerned - that's an entirely different topic...
 
If you want to know more about Scotland, stick around...
However, as I pointed out earlier this site section is still 'under reconstruction'.
When its is finished it will contain profiles on all active and recently closed distilleries in Scotland,
but you'll have to be a little patient. Only a few profiles are finished. The good news is that I've
added a few other fresh pages as well to help you find your way around, like the brands page.

Scotch Whisky Distillery Data
Overview of distilleries in Scotland

This list contains all the (legal) malt whisky distilleries in Scotland that have
been active since +/- 1975. Hundreds of other distilleries that were active
in the 18th, 19th and 20th century are not listed, simply because the odds
of ever finding a (genuine) bottle of the whisky are astronomically slim.
"Antique' bottles appearing at auctions and on eBay are usually dodgy.
 
Speaking of astronomically slim - to help the (male) readers of this page
pass the time a little more comfortable while they wait for the +/- eighty
other distillery profiles to be finished, I've included a liquid pin-up at the
right. After reading everything on this page you deserve a little break...
 
OK, now you've enjoyed yourself long enough; time to bugger off to one
of the distillery profiles or another section of Malt Madness. Unless you
require some further instructions about how to interpret the overload
of information on this page, of course. Please, allow me to clarify the
meaning of the data in the six columns of the Distillery Data Overview;

Distillery = simple, the (current, 'official') name of the distillery
Ranking = my purely personal feelings, translated into a star system
Founded = the year the distillery is claimed to have been founded
Status = Active (in production), mothballed (restart possible) or closed
Region = the Scottish whisky region where the distillery is located
Ownership = the parent company or individual owning the distillery
 
I feel that two of these criteria require a little elaboration.
First of all the 'status' of a distillery. I've tried to make the overview
a little more accessible by colour-coding the entries. The 'ghosted'
entries signify closed distilleries, while the fresh green names on the
list represent 'upstarts' that have recently begun producing whisky.
However, the borders are not always clearly defined. When a closed
distillery was demolished (like Saint Magdalene), it will never produce
whisky again - the buildings and/or equipment were destroyed. But
if a distillery is mothballed (like Caperdonich, Glen Keith or Imperial)
there's a chance it will be revived later. There's also a grey area with
distilleries with intermittent production like Scapa and Glen Scotia.
The removal of a special set of stills from a building where one or
more sets of stills remain active counts as closure of the 'distillery'
where a malt by that name (for example Mosstowie) was produced.

Scotch

Distillery

Founded

Region

Ownership

A - Scotch malt whisky distilleries

Aberfeldy
Aberlour
Ailsa Bay

Allt-A-Bhainne
Ardbeg
Ardmore
Arran
Auchentoshan
Auchroisk (Singleton)
Aultmore

***
*****
?
*
****
***
***
**
***
**

1896---------Active
1826---------Active
2007---------Active
1975---------Active
1815---------Active
1898---------Active
1993---------Active
1825---------Active
1974---------Active
1896---------Active

Highlands (S)
Speyside
Lowlands
Speyside
Islay
Speyside
Islands (Arran)
Lowlands
Speyside
Speyside

Bacardi > John Dewar & Sons
Pernod Ricard > Chivas Brothers
William Grant & Sons
Pernod Ricard > Chivas Brothers
Moët Hennessy > Glenmorangie Plc
Fortune Brands
Isle of Arran Distillers
Suntory > Morrison Bowmore
Diageo > UDV
Bacardi > John Dewar & Sons

B - Scotch malt whisky distilleries

Balblair
Balmenach
Balvenie
Banff
Ben Nevis
Benriach
Benrinnes
Benromach
Ben Wyvis
Bladnoch
Blair Athol
Bowmore
Brackla (Royal)
Braeval
Brora
Bruichladdich
Bunnahabhain

***
***
***
***
****
****
***
***
*
***
***
***
****
****
*****

***
****

1790---------Active
1824---------Active
1892---------Active
1863---------Closed (1983)
1825---------Active
1898---------Active
1835---------Active
1898---------Active
1965---------Closed (1977)
1825---------Active
1798---------Active
1779---------Active
1812---------Active
1974---------Mothballed
1819
---------Closed (1977)
1881---------Active
1883---------Active

Highlands (N)
Speyside
Speyside
Speyside
Highlands (W)
Speyside
Speyside
Speyside
Highlands (N)
Lowlands
Highlands (S)
Islay
Highlands (N)
Speyside
Highlands (N)
Islay
Islay

Pacific Spirits > Inver House
Pacific Spirits > Inver House
William Grant & Sons
Diageo > DCL
Nikka > Ben Nevis Dist. Ltd.
Intra Trading & B. Walker
Diageo > UDV
Gordon & MacPhail
Invergordon
Raymond Armstrong
Diageo > UDV
Suntory > Morrison Bowmore
Bacardi > John Dewar & Sons
Pernod Ricard > Chivas Brothers
Diageo > DCL

Bruichladdich Distillery Co.
CL Financial > Burn Stewart Dist.

C - Scotch malt whisky distilleries

Caol Ila
Caperdonich
Cardhu
Clynelish
Coleburn
Convalmore

Cragganmore
Craigellachie

****
****
**
***
*
***

***
***

1846---------Active
1898---------Mothballed
1824---------Active
1819---------Active
1897---------Closed (1985)
1894
---------Closed (1985)
1870---------Active
1891---------Active

Islay
Speyside
Speyside
Highlands (N)
Speyside
Speyside

Speyside
Speyside

Diageo > UDV
Pernod Ricard > Chivas Brothers
Diageo > UDV
Diageo > UDV
Diageo > DCL / United Distillers
Diageo > DCL / SMD

Diageo > UDV
Bacardi > John Dewar & Sons

D/E/F - Scotch malt whisky distilleries

Daftmill
Dailuaine
Dallas Dhu
Dalmore
Dalwhinnie
Deanston
Dufftown (Singleton)
Edradour
Fettercairn

?
****
****
****
**
**
***
***
**

2005---------Active
1852---------Active
1899---------Closed (1983)
1839---------Active
1897---------Active
1966---------Active
1896---------Active
1837---------Active
1824---------Active

Lowlands
Speyside
Speyside
Highlands (N)
Highlands (W)
Highlands (S)
Speyside
Highlands (S)
Highlands (E)

Francis & Ian Cuthbert
Diageo > UDV
Diageo > DCL
Whyte & Mackay Ltd.
Diageo > UDV
CL Financial > Burn Stewart Dist.
Diageo > UDV
Signatory Vintage SWC Ltd.
Whyte & Mackay Ltd.

G - Scotch malt whisky distilleries

Glen Albyn
Glenallachie
Glenburgie
Glencadam
Glencraig
Glendronach
Glendullan (Singleton)
Glen Elgin
Glenfarclas
Glenfiddich
Glen Flagler
Glen Garioch
Glenglassaugh
Glengoyne
Glen Grant
Glengyle
Glen Keith
Glenkinchie
Glenlivet
Glenlochy
Glenlossie
Glen Mhor
Glenmorangie
Glen Moray
Glen Ord (Singleton)
Glenrothes
Glen Scotia
Glen Spey
Glentauchers
Glenturret
Glenugie
Glenury Royal

**
***
***
***
***
****
***
***
****
***
*
***
****
****
****
?
***
***
***
***
**
***
***
***
***
***
***
**
***
**
***
****

1846---------Closed (1983)
1967---------Active
1829---------Active
1825---------Active
1958---------Closed (1980s)
1826---------Active
1898---------Active
1900---------Active
1836---------Active
1887---------Active
1965---------Closed (1980s)
1797---------Active
1875---------Mothballed
1833---------Active
1840---------Active
2004---------Active
1960---------Mothballed
1837---------Active
1824---------Active
1898---------Closed (1983)
1876---------Active
1892---------Closed (1983)
1843---------Active
1897---------Active
1838---------Active
1878---------Active
1832---------Active
1878---------Active
1898---------Active
1959---------Active
1834---------Closed (1983)
1852---------Closed (1985)

Highlands (N)
Speyside
Speyside
Highlands (E)
Speyside
Speyside
Speyside
Speyside
Speyside
Speyside
Lowlands
Highlands (E)
Speyside
Highlands (W)
Speyside
Campbeltown
Speyside
Lowlands
Speyside
Highlands (W)
Speyside
Highlands (N)
Highlands (N)
Speyside
Highlands (N)
Speyside
Campbeltown
Speyside
Speyside
Highlands (S)
Highlands (E)
Highlands (E)

Diageo > DCL
Pernod Ricard > Chivas Brothers
Pernod Ricard > Allied (Domecq)
Angus Dundee Distillers
Allied Distillers (Allied Domecq)
Pernod Ricard > Allied (Domecq)
Diageo > UDV
Diageo > UDV
J. & G. Grant
William Grant & Sons
Pacific Spirits > Inver House
Suntory > Morrison Bowmore
Highland Distillers (Edrington Group)
Ian Macleod Distillers
Campari
J. & A. Mitchell > Springbank Dist.
Chivas Brothers (Seagrams)
Diageo > UDV
Pernod Ricard > Chivas Brothers
Diageo > DCL
Diageo > UDV
Diageo > DCL
Moët Hennessy > Glenmorangie Plc
Moët Hennessy > Glenmorangie Plc
Diageo > UDV
Edrington Group > Highland Dist.
Loch Lomond Dist. Co
Diageo > UDV
Pernod Ricard > Allied (Domecq)
Edrington Group > Highland Dist.
Long John Dist. / Whitbread
Diageo > DCL

H/I/J/K - Scotch malt whisky distilleries

Highland Park
Hillside / Glenesk
Huntley (?)
Imperial

Inchgower
Inverleven
(Isle of) Jura
Kilchoman
Kinclaith
Kininvie
Knockando
Knockdhu (An Cnoc)

****
*
?
***

***
***
***
?
**
?
***
***

1798---------Active
1897---------Closed (1985)
2008 (?)-----Active
1897---------Mothballed
1871---------Active
1938---------Mothballed
1960---------Active
2005---------Active
1958---------Closed (1977)
1990---------Active
1898---------Active
1894---------Active

Islands (Orkney)
Highlands (E)
Speyside
Speyside

Speyside
Lowlands
Islands (Jura)
Islay
Lowlands
Speyside
Speyside
Speyside

Edrington / WG&S > Highland Distillers
Diageo > DCL / SMD
Duncan Taylor
Allied Distillers (Allied Domecq)

Diageo > UDV
Allied Distillers (Allied Domecq)
Whyte & Mackay Ltd.
Athony Willis
Long John Dist. / Whitbread
William Grant & Sons
Diageo > UDV
Pacific Spirits > Inver House

L - Scotch malt whisky distilleries

Ladyburn
Lagavulin
Laphroaig
Linkwood
Littlemill / Dunglass
Loch Ewe
Loch Lomond
Lochnagar
Lochside
Longmorn

**
*****
*****
****
***
?
*
***
***
****

1966---------Closed (1970s)
1816---------Active
1815---------Active
1821---------Active
1772---------Closed (1994)
2006 (?)-----Active
1966---------Active
1826---------Active
1957---------Closed (1992)
1895---------Active

Lowlands
Islay
Islay
Speyside
Lowlands
?
Highlands (W)
Highlands (E)
Highlands (E)
Speyside

W. Grant & Sons
Diageo > UDV
Fortune Brands
Diageo > UDV
Loch Lomond Distillery Co. Ltd.
?
Loch Lomond Distillery Co. Ltd.
Diageo > UDV
Macnab (Allied Domecq)
Pernod Ricard > Chivas Brothers

MNO - Scotch malt whisky distilleries

Macallan
MacDuff (Glen Deveron)
Mannochmore
Millburn
Miltonduff
Mortlach
Mosstowie
North Port / Brechin
Oban

****
***
**
**
****
****
****
**

***

1824---------Active
1962---------Active
1972---------Active
1807---------Closed (1985)
1824---------Active
1823---------Active
1964---------Closed (1981)
1820---------Closed (1983)
1794---------Active

Speyside
Speyside
Speyside
Highlands (N)
Speyside
Speyside
Speyside
Highlands (E)

Highlands (W)

Edrington Group > Highland Dist.
Bacardi > John Dewar & Sons
Diageo > UDV
Diageo > DCL
Pernod Ricard > Allied (Domecq)
Diageo > UDV
Allied Distillers
Diageo > DCL

Diageo > UDV

P/R/S - Scotch malt whisky distilleries

Pittyvaich
Port Ellen
Pulteney
Rosebank
Saint Magdalene
Scapa
Speyburn
Speyside (Drumguish)
Springbank (Longrow)
Strathisla
Strathmill

****
****

***
**
****

***
***
*
***
***
**

1975---------Closed (1993)
1825---------Closed (1983)
1826---------Active
1840---------Closed (1993)
1798---------Closed (1983)
1885---------Active
1897---------Active
1991---------Active
1828---------Active
1786---------Active
1891---------Active

Speyside
Islay

Highlands (N)
Lowlands
Lowlands

Islands (Orkney)
Speyside
Speyside
Campbeltown
Speyside
Speyside

Diageo > UDV
Diageo > DCL / SMD

Pacific Spirits > Inver House
Diageo > DCL
Diageo > SMD

Pernod Ricard > Allied (Domecq)
Pacific Spirits > Inver House
Speyside Distillery Co.
J. & A. Mitchell > Springbank Dist.
Pernod Ricard > Chivas Brothers
Diageo > UDV

T - Scotch malt whisky distilleries

Talisker
Tamdhu
Tamnavulin
Teaninich
Tobermory (Ledaig)
Tomatin
Tomintoul
Tormore
Tullibardine
 

*****
***
**
***
***
****
***
*
**
 

1831---------Active
1896---------Active
1966---------Active
1817---------Active
1795---------Active
1897---------Active
1964---------Active
1960---------Active
1949---------Active
 

Islands (Skye)
Speyside
Speyside
Highlands (N)
Islands (Mull)
Highlands (N)
Speyside
Speyside
Highlands (S)
 

Diageo > UDV
Edrington Group > Highland Dist.
JBB (Whyte & Mackay)
Diageo > UDV
CL Financial > Burn Stewart Dist.
Takara Shuzo Okura > Tomatin DC
Angus Dundee Distillers plc
Pernod Ricard > Allied (Domecq)
Tullibardine Distillery Ltd.
 

WHISKY-05-D

Just when I had reached my 'Hamstergeddon' goal in 2006, this website crashed.
I had been using the old 'Distillery Data' page to track my progress, so now my 'madministration' was a mess.
Fortunately, I was also struck with a sobering insight around the same time. The character and 'quality' of a particular malt whisky is influenced by so many factors that a 'brand' that released the most beautiful bottlings in the 1990's could be bottling mediocre drivel in the third millennium - and vice versa. That insight destroyed the foundation beneath the 'still scores' that were part of the old DD page. I had operated under the mistaken impression that tasting six expressions would allow me to decide once and for all if a certain malt whisky should be on my future shopping lists or not. By now I realised that the whisky world is constantly evolving and a 'brand' is only as good as it most recent bottlings - I would never be able to close my 'little black book' with tasting notes for good...

The concept of 'ranking' distilleries also deserves an explanation.
During 'A Decade of Heavy Dramming' I was frantically trying to
get at least six expressions from every active distillery in Scotland
on my 'Track Record'. The motivation for this monomaniacal effort
came from a delusion. For many years I honestly believed I would
be able to say something 'definitive' about the quality of the malt
whisky that was produced at a certain distillery, if only I sampled
enough different expressions. At the time six seemed enough...

I realised that this made the 'definitive' still scores in the old 'distillery data' section pointless.
I needed a new, 'dynamic' system that would allow me to express my feelings about factors like batch variation, upward or
downward trends, quality/price ratio, etcetera. So, I came up with the (purely personal) 'rankings' that you can find in the list
of Scottish distilleries. The minimum score is one star, awarded for simply releasing a single malt in the first place; Deanston
or Loch Lomond may not be my favorite distilleries, but I still enjoy their malt whiskies more than the average blend. If some
expressions of that malt whisky are actually any good, the distillery earns up to four more stars. These rankings are dynamic,
so increasing prices while downgrading the quality of the product has pushed a distillery like Ardbeg quickly from my Top 10.

Laphroaig-1974-A

My purely personal Top 10 distilleries at the top of this page shows my current ten favorite distilleries in Scotland.
However, let me be the first to stress that it's purely personal and relatively arbitrary. The top 10 is based on the selection
of malts that I've tried over the years. Because I haven't tried an equal number of bottlings from all distilleries, this Top 10
isn't a representative representation of reality - just a reflection of my experiences so far. The rankings can be interpreted
as the probability of me spending my hard earned cash on other bottlings from that particular distillery;
 
***** = Absolutely - Official and independent bottlings perform superbly, almost without exception.
**** = Very probably - Edutainment in a bottle; almost a guarantee for an interesting and enjoyable experience.
*** = Likely - Even an 'average' Scotch malt whisky is still a very fine dram. These still beat the Johnnie Walker Black.
** = Unlikely - With so many excellent and (relatively) affordable alternatives available, why bother?
* = Highly unlikely - After sampling at least six expressions, I've given up hope for the foreseeable future.
 
These rankings are dynamic, so the introduction of a new series of good, affordable OB's can boost a distillery's ranking.

As long as you keep in mind that these rankings are purely personal, they could provide a relative beginner with some guidance in the jungle
of available brands and bottlings. After sampling a dozen different malt whiskies you should be able to determine if our tastes are similar.
If they are, you can use my scores and rankings - and perhaps the Beginner's Guide to Single Malt Scotch Whisky - as a simple guideline.
If they are not, I suggest you check out WhiskyFun by Serge Valentin for a slightly different perspective on the whisky world. This DD section
focuses exclusively on Scotland. Check out the Lex-icon on Malt Maniacs for information about malt whisky distilleries in the rest of the world.
 

Top 10 Scotch Distilleries

The Springbank distillery also produces the
more heavily peated 'Longrow' malts, as well
as a new spirit under the name 'Hazelburn'.
Once again, these are second-hand names
of
silent distilleries in the Campbeltown area.

WhiskyFun
Malt Madness homepage