Badachro Distillery: History, Whisky Range and Visitor Guide
Badachro is a small Highland distillery in Wester Ross. Gordon and Vanessa Quinn built a family business initially focused on handcrafted gins, then expanded into other spirits and Scottish single malt selected from another Highland distillery.
The Bad na h-Achlaise range was first released in 2020. The name reflects the landscape around Badachro; its whisky was distilled elsewhere and selected, matured or finished by the business. In 2025–26 the founders announced plans for their own whisky distillation. Their historic bottles cannot be described as spirit distilled at Badachro.
In this guide
Distillery facts
History and key people
How the whisky is made
Verified bottles and historical editions
Awards and visitor information
Reader poll and FAQ
Sources and image credits
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Badachro Distillery at a glance
Distillery history
Badachro is a small Highland distillery in Wester Ross. Gordon and Vanessa Quinn built a family business initially focused on handcrafted gins, then expanded into other spirits and Scottish single malt selected from another Highland distillery.
The Bad na h-Achlaise range was first released in 2020. The name reflects the landscape around Badachro; its whisky was distilled elsewhere and selected, matured or finished by the business. In 2025–26 the founders announced plans for their own whisky distillation. Their historic bottles cannot be described as spirit distilled at Badachro.
People and ownership
Gordon and Vanessa Quinn. Ownership and company details may change; historical owners do not automatically mean present-day shareholders.
Whisky production and cask maturation
The founding distillery makes botanical gin and other spirits in small copper stills. Its own single malt production was still a developing project in the evidence reviewed.
Bad na h-Achlaise is made from carefully selected Highland malt casks and finished in Tuscan red wine oak, ruby port, Madeira and other casks. The initial Tuscan Oak label is bottled at 46% ABV; release strengths differ across the range.
Badachro Distillery whisky bottle range
The bottles below are genuine examples, including historic releases where noted. Whisky Clan has not personally tasted these whiskies for this guide.
Bad na h-Achlaise Tuscan Oak
The early independently sourced Highland single malt, with 46% ABV standard release and higher strength casks.
Bad na h-Achlaise Madeira Cask Finish
Independently sourced malt finished in Madeira wine casks.
Bad na h-Achlaise Ruby Port Cask Finish
A separate red fruit-focused port cask finish.
Bad na h-Achlaise Tuscan Oak Burns 26
A limited 2026 single cask expression.
Future Badachro site-distilled whisky
New distillery-produced spirit must mature in oak for at least three years to qualify as Scotch whisky. No historic sourced bottle proves such a whisky already exists.
Pictured: Bad na h-Achlaise Tuscan Oak Single Malt. This is an identifiable whisky release, not a generic tasting glass.
Awards and notable milestones
The distillery has won honours for its gin. These awards should not be reported as whisky tasting medals. The 2020 Bad na h-Achlaise launches and planned own malt distillation are whisky-related milestones.
Visiting Badachro Distillery
Visits and tastings are available by arrangement at the Wester Ross distillery and its Aird Hill shop. Contact the operator to confirm opening hours rather than assuming a daily programme.
Tour hours, current owners, release stock and availability can change. Always confirm before planning a visit.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is it?
Aird Hill, Badachro, Wester Ross IV21 2AB
When did the whisky operation begin?
Founded 2017; plans for first site-distilled malt announced 2025–26
Who is behind the producer?
Gordon and Vanessa Quinn
Which bottles are associated with it?
Bad na h-Achlaise Tuscan Oak, Bad na h-Achlaise Madeira Cask Finish, Bad na h-Achlaise Ruby Port Cask Finish, Bad na h-Achlaise Tuscan Oak Burns 26, Future Badachro site-distilled whisky. Check historical versus current bottlings.
Can I visit?
Visits and tastings are available by arrangement at the Wester Ross distillery and its Aird Hill shop. Contact the operator to confirm opening hours rather than assuming a daily programme.
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Sources and image credits
Research checked 23 October 2026. Outbound sources and photograph credits appear at the bottom of the article.
About the author
Whisky Clan researches whisky histories, production and bottles and welcomes verifiable reader updates.
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