The Glenkinchie Distillery

South and East of Edinburgh, where the high, green Lammermuir Hills begin to roll more gently north towards the Firth of Forth, lies the farming country of East Lothian. Although it lies not twenty miles from Edinburgh's great castle and the bustle of the Royal Mile, Glenkinchie's quiet surroundings make this tranquil place seem more remote.

The barley the Rate brothers used was often grown on land manured with local seaweed, ripened earlier and was lighter than grain grown elsewhere - qualities soon prized in the Lowland malts made from it. The draff from the distillery long went to feed local cattle in the village of Pencaitland; a prize winning Aberdeen Angus herd grew up on the Glenkinchie Farm.

Glenkinchie was finally rebuilt in the 1890s as the model Victorian distillery village we know today – with its distinctive red brick buildings, houses for workers and even a bowling green. Tradition has its place here; for example, six wooden washbacks are still used for fermentation, two made from Oregon Pine and four from Canadian Larch.

Glenkinchie's two fat old copper pot stills are also a distinctive feature, among the largest in the industry and together producing 340,000 gallons annually. A single cast-iron worm tub cools the spirit, in preference to a more modern condenser, giving a whisky of greater character and depth.

Today, with just two Lowland distilleries left in production, Glenkinchie™ is the undisputed champion of the light Lowland style. With its interesting visitor center and charming setting, this also makes an ideal first distillery visit for today's tourists. And with more than 40,000 of them visiting each year, Glenkinchie remains at the center of Pencaitland life.

Senior Site Manager: Kay Fleming

Opening Times

January to Easter
Monday to Friday, 12 noon - 4pm.

April to October
Monday to Saturday, 10am - 5pm.
Sunday, 12 noon - 5pm.

November to December
Monday to Friday, 12 noon - 4pm.
(Closed from December 23rd through January 5th inclusive.)

Admission
Adults: £5.00 / This charge includes a discount voucher which is redeemable in the distillery shop toward the purhcase of a 750ml bottle of single malt whisky.

How to find your way to Glenkinchie Distillery on public transport:
The 44B First Bus leaves Edinburgh City Centre (St. Andrew Square) at twenty minutes to each hour the destination is Pencaitland - in the village of Pencaitland get off the bus at the petrol station/Spar Shop in the village and then it is either a two mile walk to the distillery or contact the local taxi on 01875 340805.

Contact Glenkinchie Distillery
Pentcaitland, East Lothian
EH34 5ET Scotland
Telephone: +44 (0) 1875 342004
Fax: +44 (0) 1875 342007

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