Glen Ord Whisky Distillery

The Glen Ord Distillery

A visit to Glen Ord, on the edge of the Black Isle in the Highlands west of Inverness, is a delight to both the eye and the palate. Watch our distillers at work creating a magicial malt whisky which is sweet, malty and dry on the palate.

2010 Opening Hours
January - March
Monday - Friday: 11am - 4pm

Easter Weekend
Friday, Saturday, Monday 10am - 5pm

Easter Sunday 12noon - 4pm

April - September
Monday - Friday: 10am - 5pm

Saturday 11am - 5pm

Also Sundays July to September 12noon - 4pm

October - December
Monday - Friday: 11am - 4pm

Closed between Christmas & New Year.

Last Tour:
One hour before closing

Adult admisson charges includes a discount voucher, redeemable at the distillery against the purchase of a 70cl of single malt whisky.

Children under 8 years are welcome but not admitted into the production areas

Due to maintenance requirements it's not always possible to tour the distillery. Please call and check in advance to avoid disappointment.

Getting There
Approximately 18 miles north of Inverness. Take the A832 road from Muir or Ord (the link to Contin and the A835 Kyle of Lochalsh road) - three quarters of a mile you will see the distillery on the junction of the A832 and the Altgowrie road. The distillery is on the right after the towering Glen Ord Maltings.

Parking / Reception
The car park is on the right just before the distillery warehouses and reception. There is a friendly welcome at the desk and a spacious exhibition area where you can wait for your tour guide.

Contact Us
Glen Ord Distillery,
Muir of Ord, Ross-shire
Tel: +44 (0) 1463 872004
Fax: +44 (0) 1463 872008
Email: Glen Ord Distillery

The History of Glen Ord

1838 The MacKenzies of Ord feature largely in the development of the distillery. The family was granted lands in the west of Scotland by King Alexander III as early as 1263. Thomas MacKenzie of Ord inherited the estate in 1820 and set about rejuvenating the area. He leased land for the distillery to be built, as he envisaged an industry where local men could have all-year round employment. It also gave him a ready market for his barley.

There was competition from 9 small licensed distilleries in the area, most being run as co-operatives of 10-12 tenant farmers. The entire barley crop was used for distilling - the quickest means of turning it into cash to pay the rent.There are records of an ale house and meal mill on the Glen Ord site in 1549, the meal mill finally closing in 1958. There was also an extensive piggery, taking advantage of by-products from distilling. The distillery employed 18 people.

The distillery was water-powered by 2 large water wheels driven by water from Loch nam Bonnach and Loch nan Eun. Water for mashing was then taken from the Cuckoo Well and added to the whisky’s distinctive character.

The first licence holders were Robert Johnstone and Donald McLennan, trading as Ord Distillery Company. They both subsequently went bankrupt.

1870 McLennan died and his widow married a bank clerk from Beauly, Alexander MacKenzie, who was put in charge of the business. Around this time, Glen Ord was sold in Singapore, S. Africa and other British Colonies. In 1880, some Glen Ord was being sold as Glen Oran.

1896 The distillery was sold at a price of £15,800 to James Watson & Son, whisky blenders of Dundee. This was their 4th acquisition of a distillery as they were committed to obtaining high quality whisky - sales were principally of blended whiskies, particularly 'Watson's No. 10'.

1917-1919 Glen Ord was closed by government order during the First World War, in the interest of conserving barley for foodstuffs.

1923 Watson’s went into voluntary liquidation. The distillery was sold to Thomas Dewars & Sons of Perth, who amalgamated with the Distillers Company Ltd.

1930 Ord was transferred to the ownership of Scottish Malt Distillers, a subsidiary company of DCL.

1939-1945 Closed again for greater part of Second world war.

1949 Electricity came to Glen Ord, until then the distillery was lit by paraffin lamp.

1958 Meal mill closed and the single malt was sold as Or.

1961 Closure of floor maltings; new Saladin boxes built.

1966 The 2 coal-fired stills increased to 6, all of which were fitted with steam-heated coils.

1968 A large mechanical floor maltings was built beside the distillery to meet the needs of 7 SMD distilleries, however Glen Ord continued to use their own Saladin boxes until 1983.

1985 Guinness take-over. Malt and grain distilling becoming United Distillers Ltd.

1994 Was indeed a pivotal year for Glen Ord whose roots are deeply entwined with Scottish history and lore. Known outside Scotland by only Whisky aficionados, Glen Ord’s reputation begins to flourish. In this year Glen Ord 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky brings home three international awards including the World’s most prestigious spirit award the IWSC Gold Medal, the overall malt whisky category trophy for, “Best Single Malt up to 15 years.” and the title of Malt of the Year 1994-1995.

1997 Guinness and Grand Metropolitan merge to form DIAGEO, with head offices in London.

1998 Glen Ord is recognized and available throughout the world and sought out by those who appreciate unique characteristics of this unique “Whisky from the Black Isle.”

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