Teaninich Distillery — Highland Single Malt Whisky

Teaninich Distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery located near Alness, in the Highland region of Scotland. It was founded in 1817 and is currently owned by Diageo. Teaninich is one of the largest producers in the Diageo portfolio and is unusual among Scottish distilleries for using a mash filter press instead of a traditional mash tun.

History

Teaninich was built in 1817 by Hugh Munro on his Teaninich Castle estate near Alness, making it one of the first legally licensed distilleries in the Highlands after the 1823 Excise Act reforms took hold across the industry. Munro's brother, Lieutenant-General John Munro, took over in 1830 as output expanded rapidly. Ownership passed through a series of lessees and owners over the 19th century, including Robert Pattison, John McGilchrist Ross, and Robert Innes Cameron, whose trustees sold the distillery to the Distillers Company Limited (DCL) in 1933. In 1887 Teaninich became the first distillery north of Inverness to install electricity and a telephone. The distillery was mothballed during the Second World War due to barley shortages (1939-1946) and again between 1985 and 1991 amid a downturn in whisky demand. A major expansion in 1970 added a new "A Side" still house with six additional stills, and in 2000 Teaninich installed a mash filter press, a piece of equipment unique among Scottish malt whisky producers. Through Guinness's 1986 acquisition and the 1997 Guinness-Grand Metropolitan merger, the distillery became part of Diageo, which continues to operate it today, primarily supplying malt for blends such as Johnnie Walker Red Label, VAT 69, and Haig Dimple.

Quick Facts

• Region: Highland
• Founded: 1817
• Owner: Diageo
• Status: Active
• Stills: 12 (6 wash, 6 spirit)

Core Range

Teaninich has no extensive official core range, as the vast majority of its output is destined for blends. The main standard bottling is the Teaninich 10 Year Old, part of Diageo's Flora and Fauna series, bottled at 43% ABV. Diageo has also released occasional limited editions through its annual Special Releases, including a 17 Year Old (2017) and an 8 Year Old "Daring Rye" expression (2025, matured in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 60.3% ABV).