Glen Ord Distillery — Highland Single Malt Whisky

Glen Ord Distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery located in Muir of Ord, on the Black Isle, in the Highland region of Scotland. It was founded in 1838 and is currently owned by Diageo, which uses much of its output for the Johnnie Walker blends while bottling its single malt under the Singleton of Glen Ord name. It is one of the few Scottish distilleries that still operates its own on-site maltings, drawing on barley from the surrounding Black Isle, long regarded as prime malting-barley country.

History

Glen Ord was established in 1838 by Robert Johnstone and Donald MacLennan as the Ord Distillery, built on ground north of Inverness that had a long history of illicit distilling before it was formalised into a licensed operation. Ownership changed hands several times in the 19th century: Johnstone took full control before going bankrupt in 1847, after which the distillery lay silent until Alexander MacLennan and Thomas MacGregor bought and reopened it in 1855. In 1896 the distillery was sold to the Dundee blending firm James Watson & Son for £15,800.

The 20th century brought two lengthy closures forced by world events: the distillery was shut down during the First World War in 1917 and again during the Second World War in 1939, not reopening until 1946. In the following decades production capacity was substantially expanded, with the number of stills tripled from two to six, and in 1968 large mechanical floor maltings were built on site, supplying not only Glen Ord but several other Scottish Malt Distillers sites as well. Through subsequent industry consolidation the distillery passed via Scottish Malt Distillers and United Distillers into the ownership of Diageo, formed in 1997, which still operates it today, primarily supplying malt for Johnnie Walker while marketing its single malt as the Singleton of Glen Ord.

Quick Facts

• Region: Highland (Black Isle, near Inverness)
• Founded: 1838
• Owner: Diageo
• Status: Active
• Stills: 7 wash stills and 7 spirit stills

Core Range

Glen Ord's single malt is bottled under the Singleton of Glen Ord label, largely for export markets in Southeast Asia, with a core range that includes a 12 Year Old, a 15 Year Old and an 18 Year Old, typically bottled between 40% and 46% ABV using a mix of ex-bourbon American oak and Oloroso sherry casks. A visitor centre at the distillery, known as The Singleton of Glen Ord, offers year-round tours.