Glen Ord Distillery

Just west of Inverness, on the edge of the Black Isle, you will find Glen Ord Distillery. One of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. Founded in 1838, the distillery continues to malt its own barley and uses the same slow distillation process as when it first opened its doors. Venture inside to discover precisely how Glen Ord’s soft, sweet malt has garnered an impressive reputation worldwide.

The Singleton of Glen Ord

Glen Ord is home to The Singleton whisky brand. In summer 2022, the distillery launched a brand new Singleton visitor centre experience. It features a bar and deli, where you can sample whiskies and a range of Scottish fayre. There is also a retail area, where you can purchase a memento and even bottle your own Singleton whisky! The distillery tour takes you on a journey through the whisky-making process. It delves into Glen Ord’s historic methods and techniques and includes a tasting of three drams.

Glen Ord History

The history of Glen Ord Distillery stretches back to the early 19th century when Thomas MacKenzie of Ord inherited his family estate on the Black Isle. As a large portion of the land grew barley, a key whisky ingredient, he leased the land for a whisky distillery to be built. The distillery was founded in 1838 and originally operated under the name of the Ord Distillery Company. Since then, it has passed through many owners and operators. Today, the drinks company Diageo runs Glen Ord. In fact, it is one of Diageo’s largest Scottish distilleries, with a per annum production capacity of over 11 million litres.

Visiting Glen Ord Distillery

For our guests at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness, Glen Ord Distillery is about a 25-minute drive away. Please just ask at reception if you’d like us to book a taxi for you. Find visitor information here.

Be sure to call into our Whisky Bar during your stay at the hotel, to sample whiskies from around the world. We can even arrange a Whisky Flight experience for you!

If you’d like to find out more about other local whisky distillery tours and tastings, please see our Inverness Whisky Guide.