Clynelish Brora Distillery | Newly Restored

After thirty eight years the stills at Brora Distillery have finally been re-ignited, signalling a new era for the ever popular distillery. Clynelish Distillery continues to be a power house in the production of Johnnie Walker Whisky, and both distilleries are well worth a visit (if you can) to show the juxtaposition between small batch old world whisky (Brora) and new world mass production (Clynelish).

Clynelish Brora Distillery History

In 1819 Clynelish Brora Distillery was established by George Granville Leveson-Gower, then Marquess of Stafford and his wife, Elizabeth Leveson-Gower, the Countess of Sutherland. Elizabeth was born to the Earl of Sutherland and inherited it all at the ripe old age of 1 when her father and mother died suddenly. Upon her marriage to George, he took control of her estates (though not ownership) and together they devised means of deriving income from them, establishing many new businesses such a coal mine, brick and tile works, weaving and salt panning, as well the distillery. Whisky production would increase the profits on the barley they were producing, and they could utilise the coal they were mining nearby as fuel.

Another of their money making ventures was to populate the lands with sheep, and in the process, evict the existing inhabitants. Clynelish, like Talisker, is a clearance distillery. The Sutherland’s oversaw the most brutal of the Highland Clearances. Their agents/factors burned whole villages, including one elderly woman who refused to leave. They wanted to ensure that the people could not return to their homes. Clynelish Distillery is in the heart of Sutherland – a mere 5.8 miles / 9.4 km from Dunrobin Castle, Clan Sutherland’s home since the 1400s.

From 1814 to 1820 roughly 15,000 inhabitants (3000 families) were evicted from around 794,000 acres of land in Sutherland and Caithness further to the north. The families were expected to move to the coastline, an area of approximately 6000 acres, for which the Sutherlands charged a rent of 2s 6d per acre.  They had little choice but to work in the new businesses the Sutherlands had set up.

Despite their efforts, and the abundance of cheap labour, Clynelish was not initially profitable, and its first licensee James Harper went bankrupt in 1827.

By the time of Alfred Barnard’s visit around 1887, Clynelish was well and truly back in business. Barnard notes “the demand for it … has become so great that the firm have for some years been obliged to refuse trade orders”. Clynelish was being sold only as a duty paid product to private customers, not under bond “and the whole stock is thus available for the ordinary business of the firm”. Annual output was 20,000 gallons / 76,000 litres from the two stills. At the time there were three granaries, two malt barns, one kiln (using only peat), four washbacks and one 13ft diameter/3ft 6-inch deep mash tun. Barnard also notes that they were no longer using Brora coal as fuel it was of such low quality. 1

Johnnie Walker Whisky

In 1896 Clynelish was acquired by blenders Ainslie & Heilbron, in partnership with John Risk. Risk purchased Clynelish outright in 1912 and worked very closely with John Walker & Sons. It has proved to be an enduring relationship, as 95% of Clynelish today is used to make Johnnie Walker whisky. DCL acquired both Clynelish and John Walker & Sons in 1925 and still retain ownership under the banner of Diageo.

DCL closed the distillery down during the 1930s and did not resume full production again until 1960. By 1967 the need for Clynelish was so great that DCL build a second much larger distillery on the site, also named Clynelish. The original site was to be retired; however, drought on Islay was affecting production at DCL’s Port Ellen and Caol Ila sites. There were concerns of peated whisky shortages for blending, so after a brief refurbishment, the original site was restarted and renamed Brora. Brora continued making spirit (peated and unpeated) up until the early 80s when demand fell, and so did Brora’s usefulness as a distillery. In 1983 the stills at Brora were once again shut down.

Clynelish on the other hand prevailed, and an expansion/refurbishment was completed in 2017/2018. Clynelish’s former copper-top mash tun is now a beautifully repurposed bar at the (also Diageo owned) Blair Athol distillery in Pitlochry.

Resurrection

In October 2017, Diageo announced that they would re-open Clynelish Brora Distillery (along with Port Ellen Distillery on Islay). Production at Brora Distillery commenced again in 2021. Tours of the distillery are still available, though unfortunately now quite limited, as it is a beautiful example of an older distillery.

Brora Whisky

Until the new-make spirit has had sufficient time to mature (at least 2024 but more likely a lot later) you’ll find it difficult to acquire any Brora bottles other than on specialist sites, for a considerable sum, given the stills have been silent since 1983. Brora whisky was often heavily peated, unlike its sister distillery Clynelish, which has only a whisper of peat.

Clynelish Whisky

Clynelish 14yo used to be one of my favourite whiskies – it’s a slightly sweet, slightly salty (‘maritime’) dram with quite a lot of complexity – hints of toffee, spices and honey.

95% of the whisky made at the Clynelish Distillery is sent off for blending into Johnnie Walker.

Where Are The Clynelish & Brora Distilleries

The Clynelish & Brora Distilleries are 58 miles / 94 km north of Inverness, along the A9.  

Driving : You’ll notice the town of Golspie first, and then Dunrobin Castle (the home of Clan Sutherland since the 1400s). Pass through Brora, turn left at Clynelish Road and follow the brown signs to the distillery.

Public Transport: Clynelish Brora Distillery is relatively accessible by public transportation, being a 1.2 mile / 1.9 km walk from Brora Train Station. For train times see http://www.travelinescotland.com

Clynelish Distillery Tours

Clynelish Distillery is open for tours daily.

Clynelish Flavour Journey

Full sensory tour and tasting £19 per person, 1 hour 45 minutes duration. Journey through Clynelish’s dramatic story and flavourful field-to-glass whisky process. Your full-sensory tour (light, sound, media and music) culminates in a tutored whisky tasting of drams, a highball and a sweet surprise overlooking the spectacular coastal Sutherland landscape. Book the Clynelish Flavour Journey Online.

Clynelish Express Tasting

£15 per person, approx 45 minutes duration. Tutored nosing and tasting (no tour) of three delicious scotch whiskies. With some local heritage and insider knowledge this interactive tasting experience gives you an insight into the history and mystery of Clynelish whisky. Book the Clynelish Express Tasting Online.

Brora Distillery Tours

Brora Distillery is open for tours on a restricted or on request basis.

The Eras of Brora

Three hours duration and £300 per person. Explore the past, present and future eras of Brora - guests will help craft the Brora spirit as they stand side-by-side Brora’s craftspeople of today as they go about their careful work to lay down casks for maturation. Journeying through tastings of new spirit and samples distilled almost half a century before, the visit culminates with a private tasting of fleeting moments of Brora’s storied past in the Brora Triptych.

These three distinct styles from Brora’s storied heritage are brought to life within the walls of those buildings, suspended in time, that have protected its spirit. The Brora Triptych tasting is an ode to the past and a promise of Brora’s commitment to continue this legacy for generations to come. This experience includes: a 3 course lunch of contemporary Scottish cuisine using local ingredients; tastings of Brora Triptych and additional limited edition Brora expression, in addition to a guided new make spirit nosing. Exclusive Bottling available only from Brora’s restored home subject to availability. Book Eras of Brora Online.

Brora Awakened

Three hours duration and £300 per person. To re-awaken a Victorian distillery, to restore the masterpiece – the challenge laid down to the team of experts tasked with bringing about Brora’s return. Guests are invited to bear witness to this meticulous process, explore the historic spirit that was almost lost to the world, and craft the Brora of today. Glimpses of Brora’s storied past are brought into the present day through original archive materials, personal tales from distillery workers before 1983 and, to complete the immersion in Brora, tastings of Brora's celebrated recent releases. 

This experience includes: a light lunch of contemporary Scottish cuisine using local ingredients; tasting of limited edition Brora expression, in addition to a guided new make spirit nosing. Exclusive Bottling available only from Brora’s restored home subject to availability. Book Brora Awakened Online.

Useful Visitor Information

As with all Diageo distilleries, photos are not allowed in production areas, which is most of the distillery. No, it’s not because they think you’ll try and steal their ideas or equipment design! Ethanol is highly flammable, and electronic equipment poses a potential source of ignition. As such, they’ve instilled a policy on all their sites – no electronic devices to be in use in production areas, or where ethanol is likely to be in higher concentrations (like warehouses).

Children under the age of 8 are also not permitted on tours.

What else is nearby

Brora Distillery (Pre-Renovation) Photo Gallery

Other Activities (Inverness)

Resources & Further Reading