Dunbeath distillery

Highland single malt Scotch whisky

Dunbeath distillery is one of the very earliest registered distilleries in Scotland, having been reported as operating as early as 1755.

The village of Dunbeath is situated about 20 miles south of Wick, on the main A9 road on the east coast.

The distillery stood in what is now Portormin Road on the north bank of the Dunbeath Water, shortly before it flows into the North Sea.

Map
  • Region
    Highland
  • Production type
    Single malt
  • Distillery Status
    Demolished

Dunbeath History

The distillery was registered to James Sutherland in 1755. What is remarkable, is that Dunbeath was registered and recorded at a time when almost all distilling was illegal and unrecorded.

The name James Sutherland appears in the records of several other northern distilleries, but it is a common enough name and there may have been several James Sutherlands involved in distilling. 

Timeline

  • 1755 Dunbeath distillery registered to James Sutherland and in use

Contact

Address
Portormin Road
Portormin
Dunbeath
Caithness
United Kingdom
Map

See also

  • Bowertower Bowertower Bowertower Distillery

    Bowertower

    A rural distillery near Wick, Caithness, which opened in 1826.

  • Brabster Brabster Brabster Distillery

    Brabster

    The farm distillery near Wick was licensed for a brief period in 1798.

  • Brawlbin Brawlbin Brawlbin Distillery

    Brawlbin

    An early Caithness distillery near Halkirk that at one point encompassed two sites.

  • Geise Geise Geise Distillery

    Geise

    A short-lived distillery near Thurso, Caithness, noted as ‘operating’ in 1851-52.

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