Glen Ord Distillery, Black Isle: The Singleton of the North

Glen Ord Distillery, Black Isle: The Singleton of the North

✅Open to visitors — this distillery has a visitor centre and/or tours (some by appointment; book ahead — see the box below).

Glen Ord at a glance

RegionHighland (Muir of Ord, Black Isle)
Founded1838
OwnerDiageo
Visitor centreYes — modern centre (2021)
ToursRange of tours & tastings; private tasting room
OpeningOpen to visitors, seasonal hours — check the website
Websitemalts.com
CLANMACKENZIE“Luceo Non Uro”

Overview

Glen Ord, on the Black Isle at Muir of Ord, is the only malt distillery left in a district that once had many. It makes a rich, malty, lightly-spiced whisky sold as The Singleton of Glen Ord — hugely popular in Asia — and, unusually, still runs its own large maltings supplying several other Diageo distilleries.

The history

Glen Ord was founded in 1838 by Thomas Mackenzie and has worked, under various names, ever since. It survived while its Black Isle neighbours closed, and became one of Diageo’s flagship single malts under the Singleton brand, with a smart new visitor centre opened in 2021.

The water & the land

Glen Ord draws on the Allt Fionnaidh, the “White Burn”, fed by Loch nan Eun and Loch nam Bonnach.

Glen Ord carries a genuine clan thread: it was founded by a Mackenzie on the Black Isle, historic Clan Mackenzie country in Ross-shire.

Visiting

Glen Ord has a modern visitor centre (2021) with a shop, a range of tours and a private tasting room — open to visitors with seasonal hours, booking advised; check the website. It combines well with the Black Isle and Inverness.

Nearby & more whisky

Sources