🥃 Glen Ord
Single malt whisky distillery in Muir of Ord (Black Isle, Highland), founded in 1838; has its own maltings; the whisky is sold as The Singleton of Glen Ord; owned by Diageo.
Glen Ord is a distillery of single malt Scotch whisky in the village of Muir of Ord on the Black Isle peninsula, north of Inverness, in the Highland region. It was founded in 1838 by local landowner Thomas Mackenzie. Today the distillery belongs to Diageo, and its whisky is sold mainly as The Singleton of Glen Ord.
History. In the 19th century the distillery changed owners several times. In 1896 it was taken over by the blenders James Watson & Son of Dundee, in 1923 by John Dewar & Sons, and in 1925 it became part of Distillers Company. Glen Ord has belonged to Diageo since 1997. According to Difford's Guide, for a long time the whisky went only into blends, and it was first released as a single malt in 1996.
How it is made. Glen Ord is one of the few Scottish distilleries with its own maltings: a drum maltings was built in 1968, and it now supplies malt to other Diageo distilleries, including Talisker. There have been six stills since 1966. After an expansion in 2014 the capacity reached 10 million litres a year, according to Whiskypedia. Water comes from the lochs Loch nam Bonnach and Loch nan Eun, and the malt is lightly peated.
Range. In 2006 The Singleton of Glen Ord 12 Year Old appeared, followed by 15- and 18-year-old versions. Diageo promotes it mainly in Asian markets.
Why this matters to you. Look on the label for the words of Glen Ord, because whiskies from several distilleries are sold under the name The Singleton. The visitor centre has operated since 1988. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | 1838, Thomas Mackenzie; Muir of Ord, Black Isle |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Highland) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky (whisky/whiskey) |
| Raw material | lightly peated barley malt from its own maltings; water from the lochs Loch nam Bonnach and Loch nan Eun |
| Distillation method | twice, 6 copper stills (since 1966); about 10 million litres a year after 2014 |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law; The Singleton of Glen Ord comes as 12, 15 and 18 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40% ABV by law |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Glen Ord → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Highland whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Talisker, 🥃 Clynelish
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Glen Ord makes its own malt?
Yes. The distillery has a drum maltings from 1968. According to Whiskypedia, it also supplies malt to other Diageo distilleries, including Talisker.
What name is Glen Ord whisky sold under?
Mainly as The Singleton of Glen Ord, since 2006. Earlier it was released as Glen Ord 12 Year Old.
When was Glen Ord founded?
In 1838. The founder was landowner Thomas Mackenzie.
Who owns Glen Ord?
Diageo, since 1997. From 1925 the distillery was part of Distillers Company.
Can you visit Glen Ord?
Yes, the visitor centre has operated since 1988. Check the distillery's website for current details.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
Similar
🥃 Teaninich · 🥃 Abhainn Dearg · 🥃 Loch Lomond Distillery · 🥃 Glengoyne · 🥃 Ben Nevis · 🥃 Dailuaine
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Glen Ord (1838, Thomas MacKenzie; Muir of Ord, Black Isle; DCL 1925, Diageo 1997; 6 stills since 1966; maltings, malt for Talisker; 10 mlpa after 2014; Loch nam Bonnach and Loch nan Eun; Singleton of Glen Ord 2006; visitor centre 1988)
- Difford's Guide: Ord Distillery (distilling began 1838; Muir of Ord; originally used only in blends, launched as single malt in 1996)
- ScotchWhisky.net: Glen Ord (founded 1838; Diageo; Muir of Ord, Ross-shire; visitor centre; 12 Year Old)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)