GlenWyvis Distillery, Dingwall: The Community-Owned Malt
GlenWyvis at a glance
| Region | Highland (Dingwall, Easter Ross) |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Owner | GlenWyvis (community-owned) |
| Visitor centre | No regular tours — “Basecamp” shop in Dingwall |
| Tours | Shareholder open days / limited |
| Opening | Limited — check the website |
| Website | glenwyvis.com |
Overview
GlenWyvis, above Dingwall in Easter Ross, is remarkable for its ownership: it is 100% community-owned, by over 3,000 shareholders, making it one of the few genuinely community distilleries in Scotland. It brought whisky-making back to Dingwall, which had lost its distilleries a century before, and runs on renewable energy.
The history
GlenWyvis was founded by a community share offer led by local pilot and farmer John McKenzie, and began distilling in 2017 — restoring a distilling tradition Dingwall had lost when its Ben Wyvis and Ferintosh distilleries closed. Its profits benefit the local community.
The water & the land
GlenWyvis draws on water from the slopes of Ben Wyvis above the town.
GlenWyvis had no founding clan — it is a community venture at Dingwall, in historic Mackenzie and Munro country in Easter Ross.
Visiting
GlenWyvis does not run regular walk-in tours; it has a “Basecamp” shop in Dingwall and holds open days for its shareholders — check the website.
Nearby & more whisky
- Nearby on the Black Isle: Glen Ord
- Down at Alness: Dalmore
- The whole picture: Scotch whisky — the full guide
Sources
- GlenWyvis Distillery; Co-operative News.