Toulvaddie Distillery, Easter Ross: A Historic First
Toulvaddie at a glance
| Region | Highland (Fearn peninsula, Easter Ross) |
| Founded | 2024 (founded 2015) |
| Owner | Toulvaddie Distillery Ltd (Heather Nelson) |
| Visitor centre | No — micro-distillery |
| Tours | None |
| Opening | Not open to the public |
| Website | toulvaddiedistillery.com |
Overview
Toulvaddie, on the Fearn peninsula in Easter Ross, holds a genuine place in whisky history: it is thought to be the first Scotch distillery founded solely by a woman in around 200 years, established by Heather Nelson. A tiny micro-distillery, it began distilling in 2024.
The history
Heather Nelson conceived Toulvaddie in 2015 and, after years of determined effort, brought it into production in 2024 — a rare and celebrated example of a distillery founded and led by a woman, on the flat, fertile Fearn peninsula.
The water & the land
Toulvaddie draws on local water on the Fearn peninsula (the exact named source is not published).
Toulvaddie had no founding clan — it is a modern micro-distillery on the Tarbat/Fearn peninsula, in historic Ross and Munro country in Easter Ross.
Visiting
Toulvaddie is a micro-distillery not open to the public, with its whisky only now maturing; check the website for releases.
Nearby & more whisky
- Nearby at Tain: Glenmorangie
- Also in Easter Ross: Balblair
- The whole picture: Scotch whisky — the full guide
Sources
- Toulvaddie Distillery; Scotchwhisky.com.