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What's In a Name - 20 Distillery Names Explained
- Duncan Ross
- Nov 25, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 29, 2024
Scotland has over 120 whisky distilleries and more are popping up every single year. Most of them have weird Gaelic names, but what do they mean? Here are 20 distillery names and their meanings explained, and for you to discover.
Auchentoshan
This Glasgow distillery name means "Corner of The Field"
Image by Flickr
2. Glenmorangie
This Highland distillery is called "The Valley of Tranquility"
Image by NUVO Magazine
3. Knockando
Highland distillery that is in a "Little Black Hill"
Image by Planet Whiskies
4. Caol Ila
Located on an Isle called Islay it's only logical that this distillery carries a name that means "The Sound of Islay".
Image by Wikipedia
5. Glenfiddich
Considering that this whisky carries a stags head on its logo, you will understand why when you hear that the name means "The Valley of The Deer".
Image by Trip Advisor
6. Dailuaine
This Speyside distillery name means "The Green Vale"
Image by Scotchwhisky.net
7. Lagavulin
This classic Islay distillery means "The Hollow By The Hill"
Image By Visit Scotland
8. Laphroaig
This rival next door to Lagavulin distillery is named "The Hollow By The Broad Bay".
Image by Trip Advisor
9. Ardbeg
This Islay distillery is well known for its smoky whisky and is called "The Small Headland".
Image by Planet Whiskies
10. Cragganmore
"Big Rock"
Image by Visit Scotland
11. Glengoyne
This Highland distillery name means "The Valley of The Geese".
Image by Whisky.com
12. Tobermory (Ledaig)
This Isle of Mull distillery means "Mary's Well", but they also make a heavily peated whisky called Ledaig that stands for "Safe Haven".
Image by Whisky And Wisdom
13. Abhainn Dearg
This monstrosity of a name means "Red River".
Image by Myhighlands.de
14. Glen Mhor
This closed distillery was named "Great Glen (Valley)"
Image by Glen Mhor Whisky
15. Dalwhinnie
The distillery name stands for "Meeting Place".
Image by Viator
16. Bruichladdich
This Islay distillery means "Brae By The Shore".
Image by Malt Review
17. Bunnahabhain
Another Islay distillery with an interesting name, and it means "Foot of The River".
Image by whisky.com
18. Oban
"Little Bay of Caves"
Image by Whisky Unplugged
19. Bladnoch
This recently reopened Lowland distillery name stands for "Place of Flowers".
Image by Visit South West Scotland
20. Edradour
This formally known as the smallest whisky distillery in Scotland means "Between Two Waters"
Image by Moulin Hotel
Additional Meanings
There are a lot of distilleries that have the prefix “Glen”, which means “Valley”, the second part of the name usually applies to the river that runs through the valley.
The prefix “Strath” refers to a wide valley.
The term “Ben” is a mountain.
The term “Inch” is the name of a small island, mostly.
The term “More” refers to something “big”.
“Craig” and “Craggan” refer to rocks or outcroppings.
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