85+ Scottish distilleries and brand Gaelic meaning, a few Norse meanings, named for, year established and location.

Glenlivet Est 1824 is Gaelic for "Valley of the Smooth Flowing One" and Scotland's first legal Distillery after the Excise Tax passed in 1823.
Located in Speyside near Ballindalloch.

Glenmorangie Est 1843 is Gaelic for the "Valley of Tranquility". Glenmorangie was first a brewery; first set of stills were purchased at a scrap yard which were previously used to distill Gin. Their stills are 16' 101/4"; the tallest stills in Scotland.
Located in the Northern Highlands; north of Inverness in Tain.

Ardbeg Est 1815 is Gaelic for "Little Height" or "Small Headland" and were distilling 8 years before Scotch whisky became legal in 1823.
Uigeadail, Ardbegs water source is Gaelic for "Dark and Mysterious Place".
Located on Islay's South Shore.

Balvenie Est 1892 is Gaelic for “Beathan’s Farm” and sits beside Glenfiddich. Both are owned by Wm Grant & Sons.
Located in Dufftown, Speyside.

Glenfiddich Est 1886 is Gaelic for "Valley of the Deer"; first distillate ran Christmas Day 1887 and sits beside Balvenie. Both are owned by Wm Grant & Sons.
Located in Dufftown, Speyside.

Strathisla Est 1786 is Gaelic for "The Valley of the River Isla" and the base whisky in Chivas. They were distilling 37 years before Scotch whisky became legal in 1823.
Located in Keith, Speyside.

Balblair Est 1790 is Gaelic for "The Battlefield"; one of Scotland's oldest active distilleries. They were distilling 33 years before Scotch whisky became legal in 1823.
Located in the Northern Highlands; north of Inverness in Edderton.

Glenkinchie Est 1825. “Kinchie” is derived from “de Quincey” the original owners of the land and known as The Edinburgh malt. Also the base whisky in Pinch and Haig & Haig.
Located in the Lowlands just east of Edinburgh.

Auchentoshan Est 1823 is Gaelic for "Corner of the Field" and one of the few remaining in the Lowlands.
Located in the Lowlands near Glasgow.

Bunnabahain Est 1881 is Gaelic for "Foot" or "Mouth" of the River".
Located in Northeastern
Islay near Port Askaig.

Aberlour Est 1826 is Gaelic for "Mouth of the Chattering Burn".
Located in Aberlour, Speyside.

Cragganmore Est 1869 is Gaelic for "Great Rock"; only the lightest vapors pass through their special T-neck stills. Also the base whisky in Black & White and Old Parr.
Located in Ballindalloch, Speyside.

Glendullan Est 1897 is Gaelic for "Valley of Rock" or "Stone". Their brand is "The Singleton of Glendullan".
Located just outside of Dufftown, Speyside.

Dufftown Est 1896 is named for James Duff; the towns founder. Duff comes from Dubh and is Gaelic for "Black". Their brand is "The Singleton of Dufftown".
Located in Dufftown, Speyside.

Glen Ord Est 1838 is Gaelic for "Glen of the Rounded Hill" and the distilleries capacity doubled a few years ago. Their brand is "The Singleton of Glen Ord".
Located in the Muir of Ord just outside of Inverness in the Northern Highlands.

Bladnoch Est 1817 is Scotland's most southern distillery and was probably named after the Bladnoch river. They were distilling 6 years before Scotch whisky became legal in 1823.
Located in the Southern Lowlands.

Balmenach Est 1824 is Gaelic for “The Middle Farm”; also the home of Caorunn Gin.
Located in Cromdale, Speyside.

Dalwhinnie Est 1898 is Gaelic for "The Meeting Place" and the base whisky in Buchanan's.
Located in the Central Highlands between Perth and Inverness, just outside of Dalwhinnie.

Dalmore Est 1839 is Gaelic and Norse for "The Big Meadow". Their stills are known as Big Bastards- large and Wee Ones- small.
Located in the Northern Highlands, north of Inverness near Alness.

Mortlach Est 1823 is Gaelic for "Big Hill" and was the first distillery in Dufftown.
Located in Dufftown, Speyside.

Aberfeldy Est 1896, opened 1898 is the largest malt whisky component in Dewar's. The name possibly means there was a Pictish establishment in this area/region. Also home to Dewar's World of Whisky.
Located near Kenmore in the Central Highlands.

Craigellachie Est 1891 is Gaelic for "Rocky Hill".
Located in Craigellachie, Speyside which is also the home of Speyside Cooperage.

Glendronach Est 1826 is Gaelic for the "Valley of the Brambles" (Blackberries).
Located in the Eastern Highlands just outside of Forgue near Huntly.

Old Pulteney Est 1826 is named after Sir William Pulteney who died in 1805 and is known as the "Maritime Malt".
Located in the Northern Highlands, north of Inverness in Wick.

Cardhu Est 1824 is Gaelic for "Black Rock"; original name was Cardow. Also; is the base whisky for Johnnie Walker.
Located near Archiestown, Speyside.

Knockando Est 1898 is Gaelic for "Little Black Hill" and the base whisky for J&B.
Located in Knockando, Speyside.

anCnoc Est 1894 is Gaelic for "The Hill" & Knockdhu (Distillery name) is Gaelic for "Black Hill". Brand name changed to anCnoc as Knockdhu was confused for Knockando.
Located in Knock, Speyside

Jura Est 1810 is Norse for "Island of Deer" and was first blended plus bottled on Friday the 13th. George Orwell took refuge on Jura while writing 1984. They were distilling 13 years before Scotch whisky became legal in 1823.
Located on the Isle of Jura located across from Islay.

Caol Ila Est 1846 is Gaelic for "The Sound of Islay"; separates Islay and Jura.
Located in Northeast Islay near Port Askaig.

Clynelish Est 1819 is Gaelic for "Slope of the Garden"; they were distilling 4 years before Scotch whisky became legal in 1823.
Located in the Northern Highlands; north of Inverness and south of Wick.

Bowmore Est 1779 is Gaelic for "Great Sea Reef". They were distilling 44 years before Scotch whisky became legal in 1823.
Located in South Central Islay on Loch Indaal.

Dailuaine Est 1852 is Gaelic for "Green Valley".
Located in the Spey Valley, Speyside.

Benrinnes Est 1826 is Gaelic for "Promontory Hill".
Located in the Spey Valley, Speyside.

Glenrothes Est 1878 name is from The Earl of Rothes; matures to perfection and not age. Also is the base whisky in Cutty Sark.
Located in Rothes, Speyside.

BenRiach Est 1898 is Gaelic for "Speckled Mountain".
Located in Speyside between Rothes & Elgin.

​ Macallan Est 1824-
From their website-
("Macallan is most likely derived from two Gaelic words "Magh" meaning a fertile piece of ground and "Ellan " meaning of St Fillan, an Irish born monk who travelled widely in Scotland spreading Christianity during the eighth century)").
They have the smallest stills in Speyside and are know as dumpy stills.
Located in Craigellachie, Speyside.


Oban Est 1794 is Gaelic for "Little Bay". They were distilling 29 years before Scotch whisky became legal in 1823 and one of Diageo's smallest distilleries.
Located in the Western Highlands in the
town of Oban.

Tomatin Est 1897 is Gaelic for "Hill of the Juniper" and the base whisky in Antiquary and Talisman.
Located in the Highlands just south of Inverness in Tomatin.


Highland Park Est 1798 and one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. From the distillery; Highland is their location in the hills above & Park is for the farmland.
They were distilling 27 years before Scotch whisky became legal in 1823.
Located in Northern Scotland on the Orkney Isles.


Scapa Est 1885 is Gaelic for “Boat”. The Scapa Flow separates the mainland and the Orkney Islands.
Located in Northern Scotland on the Orkney Isles.

Talisker Est 1830 is a Norse name for the mountain "Thalas Gair" or "Sloping Rock".
Located on the Isle of Skye.

Glenglassaugh Est 1875 is Gaelic for the "Glen of the Grey Green place".
Located in Portsoy, Northern Speyside.


Edradour Est 1825 is Gaelic for “Between Two Waters” and one of Scotland's smallest distilleries.
Located north of Edinburgh in Pitlochry, Central Highlands.

Royal Lochnagar Est 1826 is Gaelic for “Loch of Noise or Laughter” & Diageo's smallest malt distillery.
Located in the Eastern Highlands next to Balmoral Castle.


Lagavulin Est 1816 is Gaelic for “The Hollow Where the Mill is". They were distilling 7 years before Scotch whisky became legal in 1823.
Located on Islay's South Shore.

Laphroaig Est 1815 is Gaelic "For the Beautiful Hollow by the Broad Bay". They were distilling 8 years before Scotch whisky became legal in 1823.
Located on Islay's South Shore.


Speyburn Est 1897 is basically Gaelic for "Granty Burn" a tributary to the River Spey".
Located in Speyside just outside of Rothes.


Aultmore Est 1895 is Gaelic for "Big Burn" or "Stream" named for their water source the Auchinderran Burn.
Located in Keith, Speyside.


Teaninich Est 1817 is Gaelic for “The House on the Moor” (infertile land). They were distilling 6 years before Scotch whisky became legal in 1823.
Located in the Northern Highlands; north of Inverness near Alness.


Tomintoul Est 1964 is Gaelic for the "The Hill of the Barn".
Located in Speyside near Ballindalloch.


Deanston Est 1965; opened 1967 is Gaelic for “Dean’s Farm”.
Located in the Highlands near Stirling.


Tullibardine is Gaelic for "Lookout Hill"; 1st as a brewery in 1488 and then Distillery in 1947.
Located in the Highlands near Stirling.

Arran Est 1995 is Gaelic for "Place of Peaked Hills" and is the only distillery on the Isle of Arran.


Glenlossie Est 1876 is Gaelic for "Glen of the Lossie" and the River Lossie is nearby.
Located northwest of Rothes in Speyside.


Mannochmore Est 1971 is Gaelic for "Place of the Monks" and shares the same site with Glenlossie.
Located northwest of Rothes in Speyside.

Glen Garioch Est 1797 is Gaelic for "Valley of Rough Ground" and distilling 26 years before legalization in 1823.
Located in Oldmeldrum, Speyside.

Benromach Est 1898 is Gaelic for "Shaggy Mountain" and Speyside's smallest distillery.
Located near Forres, Speyside.

Ardmore Est 1898 is Gaelic for "Great Height" and the base whisky in Teacher's. Ardmore's name was first used on Islay at a now closed distillery in the mid 1800 teens to 30's.
Located in the Eastern Highlands near Kennethmont.

Glenfarclas Est 1836 is Gaelic for "Valley of the Green Grass".
Located in Speyside near Ballindalloch.


Tamnavulin Est 1966 is Gaelic for “Mill on the Hill”.
Located in Speyside near Ballindalloch.


Glenturret Est 1774 is Gaelic for “Glen of the Little Dry Stream". Possibly the oldest active distillery in Scotland and were distilling 49 years years before legalization in 1823.
Located in Crieff, north of Stirling in the Highlands.

Royal Brackla Est 1812 is Gaelic for "Speckled Hillslope” and the first whisky distillery to be granted a Royal Warrant.
They were distilling 11 years before Scotch whisky became legal in 1823.
Located in the Northern Highlands; east of Inverness in Nairn.


Glen Moray Est 1897 is Gaelic for “Glen Sea Settlement" and was once a brewery.
Located in Elgin, Northern Speyside.


Fettercairn Est 1824 is Gaelic for “Foot of the Mountain".
Located in Fettercairn, Eastern Highlands.

Strathmill Est 1891 is Gaelic for "Mill in the "Long Valley" or "Shallow Valley". The site was first a corn mill in the early 1800's.
Located in Keith, Speyside.


Tomore Est 1958 is Gaelic for "High Hill”.
Located in Speyside between Grantown on Spey and Ballindalloch.


Glenburgie Est 1810 is Gaelic for “Glen of the Fort”. They were distilling 13 years before Scotch whisky became legal in 1823.
Located in Alves, Speyside.

Glentauchers Est 1897 was built on the "Tauchers Farm". The vast majority of the whisky is used in blends and is very rare to see as a stand alone single malt.
Located near Keith, Speyside.

Kilchoman Est 2005; the name is from the local parish / church on Islay.
Kilchoman is the first distillery built on Islay in 120 + years and the Isles smallest.

Ledaig Est 1798 is Gaelic for "The Small Slope” and the original name for present day Tobermory which is Gaelic for "Mary’s Well”. Located on the Isle of Mull's and the Isle's only distillery.