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Whisky Distilleries of Scotland

Scotland is divided into several whisky-producing regions, each with its own character and traditions. From the peated giants of Islay to the honeyed Speysides and the soft Lowlands, the landscape of Scotch is as varied as the country itself. Many distilleries have come and gone, some only silent, some closed, and others lost forever - but whisky continues to flow.

Scottish whisky distilleries

Name Country Region Status Type
Aberfeldy Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Adelphi Scotland Lowlands Active Malt
Ailsa Bay Scotland Lowlands Active Malt
Allt-a-Bhainne Scotland Speyside Active Malt
anCnoc Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Annandale Scotland Lowlands Active Malt
Arbikie Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Ardmore Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Ardnahoe Scotland Islay Active Malt
Ardnamurchan Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Arran Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Auchentoshan Scotland Lowlands Active Malt
Auchroisk Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Balblair Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Ballantine Scotland Active Grain
Ballindalloch Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Balmenach Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Balvenie Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Banff Scotland Speyside Lost Malt
Ben Nevis Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Ben Wyvis Scotland Highlands Lost Malt
Benmore Scotland Closed Malt
BenRiach Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Benrinnes Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Benromach Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Bladnoch Scotland Lowlands Active Malt
Bo'ness Scotland Closed Grain
Borders Scotland Lowlands Active Malt
Bowmore Scotland Islay Active Malt
Braeval Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Brora Scotland Highlands Reawakening Malt
Bruichladdich Scotland Islay Active Malt
Bunnahabhain Scotland Islay Active Malt
Caledonian Scotland Lowlands Lost Grain
Cambus Scotland Lowlands Closed Grain
Cameronbridge Scotland Lowlands Active Grain
Caperdonich Scotland Speyside Closed Malt
Cardhu Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Carsebridge Scotland Lowlands Lost Grain
Clynelish Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Coleburn Scotland Speyside Closed Malt
Convalmore Scotland Speyside Closed Malt
Cragganmore Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Craigellachie Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Daftmill Scotland Lowlands Active Malt
Dailuaine Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Dalmore Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Dalmunach Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Dalwhinnie Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Deanston Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Dufftown Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Eden Mill Scotland Lowland Active Malt
Edenmill Scotland Lowlands Active Malt
Garnheath Scotland Lowlands Lost Grain
Gartbreck Scotland Islay Stalled Malt
Girvan Scotland Lowlands Active Grain
Glen Albyn Scotland Speyside Lost Malt
Glen Elgin Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Glen Esk Scotland Lost Malt
Glen Flagler Scotland Lowlands Closed Malt
Glen Garioch Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Glen Grant Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Glen Keith Scotland Speyside Closed Malt
Glen Mhor Scotland Speyside Closed Malt
Glen Moray Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Glen Ord Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Glen Scotia Scotland Campbeltown Active Malt
Glen Spey Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Glenallachie Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Glenburgie Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Glencadam Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Glencraig Scotland Speyside Lost Malt
Glendronach Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Glendullan Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Glenesk Scotland Highlands Closed Malt
Glenfarclas Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Glenfiddich Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Glenflagler Scotland Lowlands Closed Malt
Glengoyne Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Glengyle Scotland Campbeltown Active Malt
Glenkinchie Scotland Lowlands Active Malt
Glenlochy Scotland Highlands Closed Malt
Glenlossie Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Glenmorangie Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Glenskiach Scotland Highlands Lost Malt
Glentauchers Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Glenturret Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Glenugie Scotland Highlands Closed Malt
Glenury Royal Scotland Highlands Closed Malt
Glenwyvis Scotland Highlands Pending Malt
Hazelburn Scotland Campbeltown Lost Malt
Holyrood Distillery Scotland Lowland Active Single Malt
Holyrood Distillery Scotland Lowland Active Single Malt
Huntley Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Imperial Scotland Speyside Lost Malt
InchDairnie Scotland Lowlands Active Malt, Rye
Inchgower Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Invergordon Scotland Highlands Active Grain
Inverleven Scotland Lowlands Lost Malt
Isle of Harris Scotland Active Malt
Isle of Jura Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Kilchoman Scotland Islay Active Malt
Kinclaith Scotland Lowlands Lost Malt
Kingsbarns Scotland Lowlands Active Malt
Kininvie Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Kirkapool Scotland Highlands Closed Malt
Kirktown Scotland Highlands Closed Malt
Knockando Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Ladyburn Scotland Lowlands Closed Malt
Lagavulin Scotland Islay Active Malt
Laphroaig Scotland Islay Active Malt
Linkwood Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Littlemill Scotland Lowlands Lost Malt
Loch Ewe Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Loch Lomond Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Lochgilphead Scotland Highlands Closed Malt
Lochindaal Scotland Islay Closed Malt
Lochlea Scotland Active Malt
Lochside Scotland Highlands Closed Malt
Lomond Scotland Lowlands Lost Malt
Lone Wolf Scotland Speyside Active Grain
Longmorn Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Longrow Scotland Campbeltown Lost Malt
Lossit Scotland Islay Closed Grain
Macallan Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Macduff Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Malt Mill Scotland Highlands Lost Malt
Man OHoy Scotland Highlands Closed Malt
Mannochmore Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Mill of Banff Scotland Speyside Lost Malt
Millburn Scotland Highlands Closed Malt
Miltonduff Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Moffat Scotland Lowlands Closed Grain
Mortlach Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Mosstowie Scotland Speyside Closed Malt
North British Scotland Lowlands Active Grain
North of Scotland Scotland Lowlands Closed Grain
North Port Scotland Highlands Lost Malt
Oban Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Pittyvaich Scotland Speyside Lost Malt
Port Dundas Scotland Lowlands Active Grain
Port Ellen Scotland Islay Reawakening Malt
Port of Leith Scotland Lowland Active Malt
Portavadie Scotland Western Highlands Under Construction Malt
Pulteney Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Rosebank Scotland Lowlands Reawakening Malt
Roseisle Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Royal Brackla Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Royal Lochnagar Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Saint Magdalene Scotland Lowlands Lost Malt
Scapa Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Speyburn Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Speyside Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Springbank Scotland Campbeltown Active Malt
Strathclyde Scotland Lowlands Active Grain
Strathearn Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Strathisla Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Strathmeldrum Scotland Highlands Closed Malt
Strathmill Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Tamdhu Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Teaninich Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Tobermory Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Tomatin Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Tomintoul Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Tormore Scotland Speyside Active Malt
Towiemore Scotland Speyside Lost
Tullibardine Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Upper Drummin Scotland Speyside Lost Malt
West Lochlin Scotland Highlands Lost Malt
Wolfburn Scotland Highlands Active Malt
Wormyhill Scotland Highlands Closed/Demolished Malt

The Motherland of Whisky

Scotland is the undisputed home of single malt whisky - a country whose rugged beauty, cold clean waters, and generations of distillers have shaped the spirit that bears its name. From the soft rolling Lowlands to the wild Atlantic coasts of Islay and the Islands, whisky production has been interwoven with Scottish life for centuries.

Today, Scotland is home to well over a hundred working distilleries, and new ones continue to appear every year. Yet, as some rise, others fall silent. The story of Scotch whisky is one of continual rebirth.

When speaking of distilleries past and present, a few key terms are used:

  • Mothballed or Silent Distillery – Temporarily closed due to overproduction or economic downturns but capable of revival. Dallas Dhu, now a museum, is a fine example.
  • Closed Distillery – No longer producing whisky but the site remains intact and could, in theory, be resurrected. Think Parkmore or Cambus.
  • Lost Distillery – Gone for good. Buildings demolished, stills scrapped, names consigned to history. Littlemill and Imperial fall into this melancholy category.

The Whisky Regions of Scotland

Although every distillery has its own character, Scotch whisky is often grouped by region - each shaped by geography, water, and tradition.

Lowlands

Stretching from the English border north to the Edinburgh–Glasgow line, the Lowlands produce whiskies often likened-rightly or wrongly-to the smoother, triple-distilled Irish style. Typically unpeated, light, and floral, Lowland whiskies include Auchentoshan, Glenkinchie, and Bladnoch.

Highlands

The largest of the whisky regions, the Highlands encompass everything north of the Central Belt - a vast and varied landscape producing whiskies that range from soft and honeyed to powerful and smoky.

Typical southern Highland whiskies include Edradour and Dalwhinnie, while Dalmore and Glenmorangie represent the bold, coastal drams of the north.

Speyside

At the heart of Scotch whisky lies Speyside, following the valley of the River Spey through Moray and Banffshire. With the highest concentration of distilleries anywhere in the world, Speyside is synonymous with refinement and craftsmanship.

Expect rich, rounded malts with notes of honey, orchard fruit, and sherry sweetness - The Glenlivet, The Macallan, Glenfiddich, and Glenfarclas among them.

Islay

Pronounced “eye-la”, the island of Islay is revered for its peated malts. Nine working distilleries (and more on the way) produce some of the smokiest whiskies on Earth - Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg among them.

Not all Islay whiskies are peat-laden, though: Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich lean toward the unpeated style, while Octomore, also from Bruichladdich, proudly holds the title of the most heavily peated whisky ever made.

Campbeltown

Once one of the whisky capitals of the world, Campbeltown on the Kintyre Peninsula nearly lost its regional status. It was saved when Springbank’s owner, Hedley G. Wright, revived the Glengyle distillery - reminding the Scotch Whisky Association that the Lowlands had only three operational distilleries at the time.

Campbeltown whiskies are often full-bodied, maritime, and slightly briny - a true reflection of the coastal air.

The (Disputed) Islands

Beyond Islay, Scotland’s other whisky-producing islands each boast their own proud traditions. From north to south, they include:

  • Orkney (Highland Park, Scapa)
  • Skye (Talisker)
  • Mull (Tobermory)
  • Jura (Isle of Jura)
  • Arran (Lochranza)

Though not officially recognised by the SWA as a separate region, many enthusiasts treat the Islands as a distinct family - shaped by the sea, yet individually expressive.

The Ongoing Story

Whisky is Scotland’s liquid history - a reflection of its people, place, and perseverance. Distilleries fall silent and rise again; styles shift with the times; new makers join the old guard.

From the peated shores of Islay to the gentle glens of the Lowlands, Scotland continues to define and redefine the art of single malt whisky.

See also:
Scotch Whisky Regions
Lost Distilleries of Scotland
Speyside Distilleries