Gaelic distillery names and pronunciation

Aberfeldy

Pronounced aberFELdy “The confluence of Palladius or Paldoc” Aber (Brythonic-Pictish - confluence or river mouth) Phellaidh (Old Gaelic - St. Paldoc, christian missionary).

Aberlour

Pronounced aberLOUR generally translated as ‘the mouth of the chattering burn’ this is more literally “Loud Confluence” Aber(Brythonic-Pictish - confluence or river mouth) labhar (Gaelic - loud).

Allt a Bhainne

Pronounced altà VANJA means “Burn of Milk” referring to the fact that the area was used to milk cattle.

Ardbeg

Pronounced ardBEG translates as “Small headland” or “Small Promontory” the name is an anglicisation of An Àird Bheag. An Àird being the Scottish Gaelic for high point or place and beag meaing little or small.

Ardmore

Pronounced ardMORE means “Big Height” and is derived from Àird Mhòr Gaelic. As above Àird is means high while Mhòr is the Scottish Gaelic for big.

Arran

Pronounced ARran “Place of Peaked Hills” Aran (Brythonic - peaked hill), very early Gaelic name, and the translation is not sure.

Auchentoshan

Pronounced OCHun-TOShun “Corner of the field” The CH in the pronunciation guide is pronounced as the CH in loch.

Aultmore

Pronounced aultMORE “Big Stream” Allt (Scottish Gaelic - stream) mór (Scottish Gaelic - big).

Balblair

Pronounced balBLAIR “The Farm on the Moor” Baile (farm) a’ Bhlàir (flat land, or moorland).

Balmenach

Pronounced balMEAHRnach “The Middle Farm” Am Baile Meadhanach.

Balvenie

Pronounced balVEnie “Beathan’s farm” Baile (farm) Bhainidh or Both Bhainidh. Named after 11th century bishop of Mortlach.

Banff

Pronounced bamph Banbh is a poetic name for Ireland who were used commemoratively to several placenames over Scotland.

Ben Riach

Pronounced ben RIach “Speckled Mountain”

Benrinnes

Pronounced ben RINnes “Promontory Hill” Beinn (Scottish Gaelic - mountain) roinn (Scottish Gaelic - promontory).

Benromach

Pronounced ben ROmach “Shaggy Mountain”

Bladnoch

Pronounced BLADnoch Old Gaelic name of a river which the meaning is unknown of.

Blair Atholl

Pronounced blair ATHol “Plain of the new Ireland” Blar (Scottish Gaelic - plain) ath (Scottish Gaelic - next or second) Fhodla (Old Gaelic - Irish godess Fodla, also old name for Ireland).

Bowmore

Pronounced bowMORE “Big Hut” Both (Scotish Gaelic - hut or house) mór (Scottish Gaelic - big).

Brackla

Pronounced BRACKlach “Speckled Hillslope” by some sources, and “The Badger’s Sett” A’ Bhraclaich by others. Often also referred to as ‘Royal Brackla’ by appointement of King William IV who was fond of this malt.

Brora

Pronounced BROra “The bridges river” Bru’r (Old Norse - bridge) aa (Old Norse - river).

Bruichladdich

Pronounced BROOìch-LADDich also: BROOKladDEE “The Bank of the Shore” Bruach (bank) a’ Chladaich (shore). The second pronunciation is used locally in dialect, and might have a Norse background.

Bunnahabhain

Pronounced boonaHAAven “Foot of the River” Bonn (Scottish Gaelic - bottom) abhainn (Scottish Gaelic - stream or river).

Caol Ila

Pronounced COOL-eelah “Sound of Islay” Caol (Scottish Gaelic - sound) Ila stands for Islay (Anglicized), which might come from the personal name ile, which in mythology is a Danish princess who came from Ireland to Islay. During her crossing over the sea stones magically appeared for her to place her feet on. More information on ile can be found at the Islay entry.

Caperdonich

Pronounced kapperDOHnich Is named after the “Secret Well” it uses for it’s water.

Cardhu

Pronounced kahrDOO “Black Rock” Creag (Scottish Gaelic - rock) dubh (Scottish Gaelic - black)

Clynelish

Pronounced cleinLISH “Sloped Garden” Claon (Scottish Gaelic - sloped) lios (Scottish Gaelic - garden).

Coleburn

Pronounced coleburn The area around this burn has probally been used to make charcoal.

Convalmore

Pronounced convalMORE Named after the Conval hills located just north of Dufftown.

Cragganmore

Pronounced kragganMORE “The Big Rock” An Creagan (Scottish Gaelic - rock) mór (Scottish Gaelic - big)

Craighellachie

Pronounced krayKHELlachie “Rock of the Stoney Place” Creag (Scottish Gaelic - rock) ealeachaidh (Scottish Gaelic - stony).

Dailuaine

Pronounced dal-HOOànjeh “The Green Meadow” An Dail Uaine. In the pronunciation the OO is pronounced like the oo in cool.

Dallas Dhu

Pronounced dallas DOO “Field by the Black Waterfall” Dail (Scottish Gaelic - field) eas (Scottish Gaelic - waterfall) dubh (Scottish Gaelic - black).

Dalmore

Pronounced dalMORE “The Big Field” Dail (Scottish Gaelic - field) mór (Scottish Gaelic - big).

Dalwhinnie

Pronounced dalWHINnie “Field of the Champion” Dail (Scottish Gaelic - field) cuingid (Scottish Gaelic - champion). In the pronunciation, make sure the H sounds gets pronounced well.

Deanston

Pronounced deanston “The Hill (fort)”, An Dùn. Other sources translate it as “Dean’s farm”.

Dufftown

Pronounced DUFton Town named after James Duff who founded it. Duff comes from dubh (Scottish Gaelic - black).

Dumbarton

Pronounced dumBARton “Stronghold of the Britons” Dùn (Scottish Gaelic - fortified stronghold) breatainn (Scottish Gaelic - britons).

Edradour

Pronounced edraDAUWer “Between Two Waters” Eadar (Scottish Gaelic - between) da (Scottish Gaelic - two) dhobhar (Brythonic Scottish Gaelic - waters).

Fettercairn

Pronounced fetter-CAIRN “Wooded Slope” Faither (Scottish Gaelic - terraced slope or gradient) cardden (Brythonic Celtic - wood or copse).

Glen Albyn

Pronounced glen ALbin “Glen Alba” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) Alba (old name for Scotland).

Glen Allachie

Pronounced glen ALLachie “The glen at the Rocky Place” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) Aileachaidh. Note again that the ch is pronounced like the ch in loch.

Glen Burgie

Pronounced glen BURgie “Glen of the Fort” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) borg (Norse - fort).

Glen Cadam

Pronounced glen KAdam Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country). Cadam is the name of a house with unknown meaning.

Glen Deveron

Pronounced glen DEAFeron “Glen of the Black Earn” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) Originally called Eron possibly from Erin (Old Irish). dubh (Scottish Gaelic - dark) added later.

Glen Craig

Pronounced glen KRAIG “Glen of the Rock"Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) creag (Scottish Gaelic - rock).

Glen Dronach

Pronounced glen DRONach “Valley of the Blackberries”

Glen Elgin

Pronounced glen ELgin “Glen Little Ireland” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) ealg (Scottish Gaelic - old name for Ireland) in (Scottish GAelic suffix for ‘litte’).

Glen Esk

Pronounced glen ESK “Glen of the Water” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) uisge (Scottish Gaelic - water).

Glen Farclas

Pronounced glen FÀRclass “Valley of the Green Grass”

Glenfiddich

Pronounced glen FIDdich “Fid’s Glen” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) Fidach is a old Pictish province name. Fid is most likely a first name. “The Glen of the Deer” is more a marketing tool :). Note that again the ending ch is pronounced as in the word loch, and not as a hard k sound.

Glen Garioch

Pronounced glen GEERie “Glen of the Rough Ground” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) Garbh (Scottish Gaelic - roughness) ach (Scottish Gaelic - field or place).

Glen Glassaugh

Pronounced glen GLASSòch “Glen of the Grey-green Place” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) Glasach.

Glen Grant

Pronounced glen grant “Grant’s glen” Glen (Scottish Gaelic - glen), Grant is the family name of the founder of the distillery.

Glen Keith

Pronounced glen keith Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country), Keith is unclear. It might come from cait (pictish - a personal name), but also coit (Brythonic and Old Gaelic - wood) is said to be the source.

Glen Kinchie

Pronounced glen KINsee Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country), kinchie comes from ‘de Quincey’ who were landowners of this place. That also explains why the ‘ch’ is not pronounced as you would expect in Gaelic as the ch in ‘loch’.

Glenlivet

Pronounced glenLIFfit “Glen of the Smooth Place” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) liobh (Scottish Gaelic - slippery/smooth) ait (Scottish Gaelic - place).

Glen Lochy

Pronounced glenLOCHee “Glen of the Dark Godess” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) lòch (Old Irish Gaelic - black) dae (Irish Gaelic - godess).

Glen Lossie

Pronounced glen LOSSee “Glen of the Lossie” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country), lossie is more unclear. It is said the name comes from Loxa, meaning croock in Greek. Also lus (Scottish Gaelic - herbs or plants) is suggested.

Glen Mhor

Pronounced glen VHORE “The Great Glen” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) mór (Scottish Gaelic - big)

Glenmorangie

Pronounced glenMÒRANgee “Glen of the Big Meadows” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) mór (Scottish Gaelic - big) innse (Scottish Gaelic - water meadows). “The Glen Of Tranquillity” has more to do with marketing then a proper translation ;) In 2003 a Gaelic speaker filed a complaint at the Scottish authority on the subject of marketing about the wrong translation. Glenmorangie then said the translation comes from Gleann mor na sith which translates as ‘big glen of peace’ or ‘glen of tranquillity’.

Glen Moray

Pronounced glen MORray “Glen Sea Settlement” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) mori (old Gaelic name).

Glen Ord

Pronounced glen ord “Glen of The rounded hill” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) t-Òrd, “The rounded hill”.

Glenrothes

Pronounced glen ROTtus Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) Modern name, Rothes was the family name of the earls who owned the land. Rathes is also Scottish Gaelic for ring-fort. In other words, another where it is not sure where the name originates from.

Glen Scotia

Pronounced glen SCOtia “Glen of the Scots” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) scoti is the original name for the immigrants who came from Northern Ireland.

Glen Spey

Pronounced glen spey Exact translation of spey is not known. Spiathan (old Scottish Gaelic - thorn) and yspyddad (Brythonic - hawthorn), and also squeas (pre Celtic - vomit or gush) with the -an ending has been suggested.

Glenturret

Pronounced glen THURret “Glen of the Little Dry Stream” Tur (Scottish Gaelic - dry) that suffix indicating small. Meaning the stream dries up in summer.

Glen Ugie

Pronounced glen Ugie “Glen of the ugie” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) ugeach (Scottish Gaelic - nook or hollow).

Glen Ury

Pronounced glen Uree Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) , Ury is the name of the district.

Glen Wyvis

Pronounced glen WYvis Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) uais (Scottish Gaelic - noble or majestic).

Highland Park

Pronounced highland park Name is most likely chosen by the manufacturer to give the consumers a feeling of what the whisky would taste like, and put them in the corner of “highland whiskies”.

Inchmurrin

Pronounced inchMÙRrin “Island of st. Mirin” Innis (Scottish Gaelic - island) mirin (personal name from 7th century Irish abbot).

Islay

Pronounced EYElà “Ile’s Island” Ile (personal name) ey (Old Norse - island). If the name is Gaelic from origina it may be “flank shaped”. The pronunciation shows how most Scots would pronounce the name, on the island itself EElah is more common. Another possible translation is that Ile has been Anglicized to Islay, and comes from the personal name ile, which in mythology is a Danish princess who came from Ireland to Islay. During her crossing over the sea stones magically appeared for her to place her feet on.

Jura

Pronounced jura “Doirad’s Island” Doirad (Norse personal name, meaning deer) ey (Old Norse - island).

Kininview

Pronounced kinINview “The End of the Fair Plain”, Ceann Fhinn Mhuighe.

Knochdhu

Pronounced nockDOO “Black Hill” Cnoc (Scottish Gaelic - hill) dubh (Scottish Gaelic - black)

Ladybank

Pronounced ladybank “Boggy Slope” Leathad (Scottish Gaelic - slope) bog (Scottish Gaelic - moist). Name has been anglicized to Lady.

Lagavulin

Pronounced lagaVOOlin “Hollow by the Mill” Lag (Scottish Gaelic - hollow) a’mhuilinn (Scottish Gaelic - by the mill).

Laphroaig

Pronounced laFROIG “Hollow by the Big Bay” Lag (Scottish Gaelic - hollow) a’mhor (Scottish Gaelic - by the big) aig (Scottish Gaelic - bay).

Ledaig

Pronounced LEADaig “The Small Slope” An Leadag. Other sources translate it as having a Norse origin meaning “A bay which is difficult to enter”.

Loch Lomond

Pronounced loch LOmond On this name the historians are not entirely sure. It could be lumond (Brythonic - beacon) referring to Ben Lomond, another source might be leamham (Scottish Gaelic - elm).

Royal Lochnagar

Pronounced LOCHnagár “Loch of the Noise or Laughter” Loch (Scottish Gaelic - loch) na (Scottish Gaelic - of the) (Scottish Gaelic - slope) gaire (Scottish Gaelic - noise or laughter). The ‘Royal’ is by appointment of Queen Victoria.

Longmorn

Pronounced LONGmorn “Morgan’s Church or Field” Lann (Scottish Gaelic - field or church field) Morgan (Brythonic personal name of a saint).

Macallan

Pronounced macALlan “Fillan’s Plain”, Magh Fhaolain. Occasionally also translated to “property of the son of Allan.” Mac means “son of”.

Mannochmore

Pronounced manNOCHmore “The Place of the Monks” Mannoch (Scottish Gaelic - big) mór (Scottish Gaelic - big).

Millburn

Pronounced MILLburn “The Stream of the Mill” Allt (Scottish Gaelic - stream) a’Mhuilinn Allt (Scottish Gaelic - mill).

Milltonduff

Pronounced milltonDUFF “Duff’s Millton” Milton means a farm or village with a mill. Duff is a personal name.

Mortlach

Pronounced mòrtLACH “Big Hill” Mór (Scottish Gaelic - big) ulach (Scottish Gaelic - hill).

Oban

Pronounced ooBAN “Little Bay” Ob (Scottish Gaelic from Old Norse “hop” which means bay or inlet) an (Scottish Gaelic - little).

Pittyvaich

Pronounced PITTYvaáich “The Farm with the Byre” Peit/Baile a’ Bhàthaich (Pictish Gaelic)

Port Ellen

Pronounced port ellen Lady Ellenor was the wife of the founder of the town, W.F. Campbell.

Pulteney

Pronounced PULT’ney Named after one of the developers of the place the distillery is build.

Rosebank

Pronounced rosebank The English name refers to a bank of roses, “Kenneth’s secluded spot”, Cùil Choinnich is another possible translation in Gaelic.

St Magdalene

Pronounced st MÁGdelain The area this distillery is located is known as St. Magdalene’s Cross.

Scapa

Pronounced scàppà “Boat” Skalp (Old Norse - boat).

Spey

Pronounced spey Exact translation is not known. Spiathan (old Scottish Gaelic - thorn) and yspyddad (Brythonic - hawthorn), and also squeas (pre Celtic - vomit or gush) with the -an ending has been suggested.

Speyburn

Pronounced SPEYburn See above.

Springbank

Pronounced SPRINGbank Name comes probably simply from the fact that there is a spring on a bank…

Strathisla

Pronounced strathEYEla “The Valley of the River Isla” Strath (Scottish Gaelic - broad river valley), Isla is the river that flows here.

Strathmill

Pronounced strathMILL Strath (Scottish Gaelic - broad river valley), the distillery used to be a mill.

Talisker

Pronounced TALisker “Sloping Rock” T-hallr (Old Norse - sloping) skjaer (Old Norse - rock).

Thamdu

Pronounced thamDOO “Black hill” Tom (Scottish Gaelic - hill) dubh (Scottish Gaelic - black).

Tamnavulin

Pronounced tamnaVOOLIN “Mill on the Hill” Tom (Scottish Gaelic - hill) a’mhuilinn (Scottish Gaelic - by the mill)

Teaninich

Pronounced thaiNINich “The House on the Moor” Taigh (Scottish Gaelic - house) an Aonaich (Scottish Gaelic - large area or moorland).

Tobermory

Pronounced toberMOREee “Mary’s Well” Tobar (Scottish Gaelic - well) Moire (Scottish Gaelic - Mary).

Tomatin

Pronounced tomàTIN “Juniper Hill” Tom (Scottish Gaelic - hill) aitionn (Scottish Gaelic - juniper).

Tomintoul

Pronounced tominTOWEL “Little Hill of the Barn” Tom (Scottish Gaelic - hill) an t-sabhail (Scottish Gaelic - of the barn).

Tormore

Pronounced torMORE “High Hill” Torr (Scottish Gaelic - mound or hill) mór (Scottish Gaelic - big)

Tullibardine

Pronounced tulliBÁRdine “Hill of Warning” Tullach (Scottish Gaelic - hill slope) bardainn (Scottish Gaelic - warning).

Guide To Gaelic Distillery Names

This page provides information about the origin, meaning and pronunciation of distillery names. The research that went into this article took quite a bit longer then I initially expected. Gaelic is a very confusing language, and the more sources you use, the more different translations you get to choose from!

At times it is stunning to see how a name is rooted in the past and evolved over time. Who would at first would think that Ladybank has a Gaelic source? Over time, Leathad-bog (Boggy Slope) has been anglicized to the very English sounding version of Ladybank. This example clearly shows what the influences are from other languages such as English, Norse, Pictish and Brythonic, and their role in the names we can find back today on our beloved single malts. Where possible, I will include the original language the word stems from.

This anglicization leads to possible problems as well. Some names (like Ladybank) are so heavily transformed that its original source is hard to find. This can lead to differences in the pronunciation for example. The locals are using the original pronunciation, where people outside the area are using the Gaelic pronunciation (emphasis on second syllable for example). There are distillerynames that are pronounced the Gaelic way in the whisky industry (and thus, also by us consumers), but have an entirely different pronunciation locally. Secondly it might make translating the name to English very hard. For several distillerynames there are several possible translations available. Not unusually alternative translations are provided by marketing departments of distilleries, causing confusion. One case even led to a Gaelic speaker filing a complaint at the Scottish authority! (see Glenmorangie).

As less and less people speak Gaelic on a day to day basis these problems will only strengthen in the future. Reality is that several ways of pronunciation and translation of several distillerynames does indeed exist. Where necessary I will add and possibly explain the alternatives.

Links to other resources on the Internet, and a list of books and music CD’s have been put on the bottom of this page. Some of them also contain native Gaelic speakers pronouncing the names, which might help you more with learning how to pronounce these names rather then my attempt to phonetically describe them! If you are a native Gaelic speaker and wish to help us by providing sound files for this page, that would be very much welcomed.

If you have any updates, feel free to add them under this page as a comment!