Inchgower distillery

Inchgower distillery stands beside the Moray Firth near Buckie in north-east Scotland. The single malt whisky it produces shares the distillery’s name. Built in 1871, it replaced an earlier distillery called Tochineal. After closing in 1903, the site was bought by Buckie Council in 1936. Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd took over in 1938 and still uses its logo today. The water for the whisky comes from a burn that rises in the Menduff Hills south of Buckie. The distillery’s long history links it to famous names in Scotch whisky. In 1985 Arthur Bell & Sons was taken over by Guinness, then merged with United Distillers and Vintners in 1987. Guinness and Grand Metropolitan formed Diageo in 1997. Inchgower’s spirit goes into Bell’s blended whisky, giving it a place in a well-known brand. Visitors find a working distillery set beside the sea. The buildings show the traditional style of a Speyside malt site. Inside, copper stills shape the new make spirit. The water from the Menduff Hills gives the whisky its character. Outside, views stretch across the Moray Firth to the hills beyond. The quiet location keeps the focus on the whisky made here.