Glen Keith distillery

Glen Keith distillery stands in Keith, Moray, on the site of a former meal-mill. It is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery owned by Chivas Brothers. The distillery opened in 1958 as the first new distillery in Speyside since 1898. It contrasts with Strathisla distillery, which is the third oldest in Scotland. Construction began in 1957 and was completed in 1960 with three stills. The distillery is worth the journey for its role in whisky innovation. It introduced double distillation in 1970 and used the first gas-fired stills in Scotland. Glen Keith served as a laboratory for Chivas Brothers, developing new yeast strains and producing experimental malts. The distillery released an official bottling in the 1990s and later a 10-year-old single malt. It was mothballed in 1999 and reopened in 2013 after extensive reconstruction. Visitors find a modern distillery with five stills and gas-fired heating. The site includes a visitor centre and production buildings. The surrounding area is rural, reflecting its location in Moray. The distillery produces six million litres of spirit annually, mainly for blended whiskies. Its history and innovations make it a notable stop for whisky enthusiasts.