| Country | scotland |
| Region | Highland |
| Established | 1890 |
| Owner | Alexander & Macdonald (original operators); brand name now owned by A.D. Rattray |
| Type | Single Malt Scotch (historic distillery; name now used for an independently bottled single malt sourced from Benrinnes Distillery) |
| Number of stills | |
| Visitor center | No |
| Status | Closed |
| Phone | n/a |
Stronarchie Distillery (more commonly spelled Stronachie in whisky literature) was a Scotch whisky distillery that once stood in a secluded glen of the Ochil Hills near Forgandenny, Perth and Kinross, classed within the Highland whisky region. It was founded around 1890 by the partnership of Alexander & Macdonald and closed in 1928 after roughly three decades of production, with its buildings demolished around 1950. Although nothing remains of the original site, the Stronachie name survives today as a revived single malt brand produced from Benrinnes distillate.
Stronarchie was built in the final years of the 19th century on the Perth and Kinross side of the Ochil Hills, close to the village of Forgandenny. Despite lying south of the traditional Highland line, its output was classed as a true Highland malt. Whisky reference sources give slightly differing founding dates, ranging from 1890 to around 1910, but most agree the distillery was established and run by the partnership of Alexander & Macdonald and operated for roughly thirty years. Little detailed operational history survives, which is typical of the many small, independently owned Highland distilleries of the period; what is documented is that the firm of A.D. Rattray acted as an agent or distributor for Stronachie's whisky during its working life, a relationship that later proved important to the brand's history.
Stronarchie distillery closed in 1928, one of numerous small Highland producers that failed to survive the depressed interwar market for Scotch whisky, and its buildings were demolished around 1950, leaving no physical trace of the working distillery today. The name did not vanish, however: decades later A.D. Rattray, which had historic ties to the original distillery as its bottler or agent, acquired one of a small handful of surviving bottles - a 1904 vintage - and used it as a benchmark to recreate a comparable character using single malt sourced from Speyside's Benrinnes Distillery. The resulting Stronachie range, including 10- and 12-year-old expressions, keeps the name in circulation among drinkers, but it is not spirit distilled at the original Forgandenny site. Genuine bottlings from the historic distillery itself are extremely scarce, with only a few known survivors, making them notable curios for collectors of lost Scotch whisky history, while the modern A.D. Rattray Stronachie bottlings serve as an accessible tribute rather than original stock.
Stronarchie distillery is located at Forgandenny, Perth and Kinross, Scotland (original distillery site demolished c. 1950; no buildings remain).
Stronarchie distillery was founded in 1890.
Stronarchie distillery is owned by Alexander & Macdonald (original operators); brand name now owned by A.D. Rattray.
Stronarchie distillery is from Highland, scotland.
You can buy Stronarchie whisky at Glenbotal.co.uk. We currently stock a selection with free UK delivery on orders over £99.
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About Glenbotal
The idea of Glenbotal came to us naturaly: as whisky lovers, we were always on the lookout for new experiences in the whisky world. That’s why we created Glenbotal and became our very own first customers. We buy unique and hard to find spirits from auctions, ballots, and private collections. Then, we share them with a small circle of friends and people who can appreciate a good dram.