Ardnamurchan distillery

Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

A hydro-electric generator in the river which also provides Ardnamurchan’s cooling water generates all the power required, while a biomass boiler using wood chips from a local forest provides all the hot water. The draff heads to local herds and pot ale goes as fertiliser for the fields.

Two styles of spirit have been made from the outset – peated and unpeated. Both use barley grown on the estate of one of the owners.

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

Ardnamurchan History

Legal distilling was unknown on the remote Ardnamurchan peninsula until independent bottler Adelphi opened its distillery there in 2014. This is not however the first distillery to bear the Adelphi name.

The original was built in the Gorbals district of Glasgow in 1826, passing into the hands of Archibald Walker in 1880, making the firm the only distiller to make whisky in Scotland, Ireland and England. By 1887 it was producing over 500,000 gallons of both malt and grain whisky a year. It was bought by DCL in 1903 and its pot stills stopped four years later. Grain was made until 1932. The site is now where Glasgow’s Central Mosque stands.

Archibald Walker's great-grandson, Jamie, started Adelphi as an independent bottler in 1993. Its current owners bought the firm in 2004. 

Ardnamurchan Facts

  • Capacity (mlpa) i
    0.3-0.5
  • Condenser Type i
    Shell and tube outside building
  • Fermentation Time i
    72-120 hours
  • Filling Strength i
    63.50%
  • Grist Weight (t) i
    2
  • Heat Source i
    Biomass from locally sourced wood chip
  • Malt Specification i
    Concerto; 30ppm
  • Malt Supplier i
    Bairds using malt from Broomhall Farm
  • Mash Tun Type i
    Semi-lauter
  • New-make Strength i
    74-76%
  • Single Malt Percentage i
    100%
  • Spirit Still Charge (l) i
    6,000
  • Spirit Still Shape i
    Traditional with boil ball
  • Spirit Still Size (l) i
    6,000
  • Stills i
    2
  • Warehousing i
    Dunnage on site
  • Wash Still Charge (l) i
    10,000
  • Wash Still Shape i
    Traditional
  • Wash Still Size (l) i
    10,000
  • Washback Charge (l) i
    10,000
  • Washback Size (l) i
    15,000
  • Washback Type i
    4 oak and 3 stainless steel
  • Washbacks i
    7
  • Water Source i
    Glenmore River and springs above the distillery
  • Wort Clarity i
    High clarity because of 20 minutes recirculation
  • Yeast Type i
    Distillers

Owner

Current owner

Contact

Address
Ardnamurchan Distillery
Glenbeg
Ardnamurchan
Argyll
PH36 4JQ
United Kingdom
Phone
+44 1972 500285
Visitor Opening Hours
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
10am to 6pm
Wednesday
10am to 6pm
Thursday
10am to 6pm
Friday
10am to 6pm
Saturday
10am to 6pm
Sunday
Closed

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See also

  • Dunoon Dunoon Dunoon Distillery

    Dunoon

    An early 19th century distillery on the Cowal peninsula.

  • Altduanalt Altduanalt Altduanalt Distillery

    Altduanalt

    A short-lived distillery in the village of Rhu, on the east shore of Gareloch.

  • Ardincaple Ardincaple Ardincaple Distillery

    Ardincaple

    Ardincaple was a short-lived distillery on the Island of Seil, south of Oban.

  • Babute Babute Babute Distillery

    Babute

    One of many lost distilleries in Argyll that was operational briefly in the 18th century.

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