Ardnamurchan Distillery: Whisky at the End of the Road

Overview

Ardnamurchan is one of the most remote distilleries in Scotland. It stands on the peninsula that ends at the most westerly point of the British mainland. It was built by Adelphi, an independent bottler that wanted its own distillery. Plans were approved in 2012, building began in 2013, and the distillery was finished in May 2014. It runs almost entirely on local renewable energy: hydro-electric power from the river and a biomass boiler fuelled by timber from the surrounding forest. It makes both peated and unpeated West Highland malt. The first official whisky was released in 2017, and by 2020 more than 10,000 casks had been filled.

Where it is

The distillery is at Glenbeg, on the south coast of the Ardnamurchan peninsula, on the shore of Loch Sunart. It is reached by the long single-track B8007 from Salen. Fort William is about 50 miles away, around 1 hour 45 minutes via the Corran ferry. From Kilchoan, at the end of the road, a small ferry crosses to Tobermory on Mull.

The full history

Adelphi’s distillery

Adelphi, which takes its name from a 19th-century Glasgow distillery, made its reputation bottling single casks from other distilleries. It wanted a distillery of its own, built to the highest environmental standards in a place with real character. Ardnamurchan, with its rivers, forests and remoteness, fitted. Planning permission was granted in April 2012, construction started in 2013, and the distillery was completed in May 2014.

Releases

The first official Ardnamurchan whisky appeared in 2017, at three years old. More releases followed, mixing peated and unpeated spirit and bourbon and sherry casks, labelled with batch codes such as AD/. By 2020 the distillery had filled over 10,000 casks. The house style is coastal, with fruit, brine and gentle smoke.

How it’s made

Ardnamurchan has one wash still and one spirit still, with a capacity of around 500,000 litres a year. Process water comes from springs above the distillery, and the Glenmore River provides cooling water and hydro-electric power. A biomass boiler burning local timber supplies heat, including for the distillery’s own floor maltings.

Clans & castles

• The MacIains of Ardnamurchan, a branch of Clan Donald, held the peninsula from Mingary Castle near Kilchoan, a 13th-century fortress on a sea rock. It has recently been restored.
• The Campbells took Ardnamurchan from the MacIains in the early 17th century. See Clan Campbell.
• Castle Tioram, on a tidal island in Loch Moidart about 15 miles north-east, was the seat of the MacDonalds of Clanranald. It was burned in 1715 during the Jacobite rising.
• The ’45. Prince Charles Edward Stuart landed nearby and raised his standard at Glenfinnan, at the head of Loch Shiel, in August 1745.

Stones, churches & lochs

• Camas nan Geall, on the road west: a Neolithic chambered cairn and a standing stone later carved with a Christian cross, above a beautiful bay. See our standing stones guide.
• Ardnamurchan Point lighthouse, the most westerly point on the British mainland, built in 1849.
• Loch Sunart, at the distillery’s door, and Loch Shiel, long and narrow, running down to Glenfinnan. See our lochs guide.
• Strontian, at the head of Loch Sunart, gave its name to the element strontium, first identified in ore from its lead mines in 1790.

Visiting

Ardnamurchan has a visitor centre and runs guided tours. Opening is seasonal, so book ahead on the distillery’s website. Allow plenty of time: the road is long, slow and beautiful.

Nearby distilleries

• Tobermory, Mull, via the Kilchoan–Tobermory ferry.
• Nc’nean, Morvern (about 1 hour 30 minutes by road): the organic net-zero distillery.
• Ben Nevis, Fort William (about 1 hour 45 minutes).

The West Highlands & Mull Whisky Trail and the whisky hub cover the region.

Sources

• Ardnamurchan distillery — Wikipedia.
• Adelphi Distillery Ltd, official site.
• Historic Environment Scotland (Castle Tioram, Mingary Castle, Camas nan Geall).