Brora Distillery: History, Owner and Visitor Guide
Updated: 18 hours ago
Brora Distillery sits in the coastal village of Brora in Sutherland, in the Scottish Highlands. It is one of the best known names among Scotland's closed and reopened distilleries. This guide covers where it is, how its story unfolded, who owns it and how to visit.
In this guide
Summarise this guide with AI
Brora at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery | Brora |
Country / region | Highlands, Scotland |
Owner / producer | Diageo |
History | The distillery was built in 1819 by the Marquess of Stafford. For most of its life it was known as Clynelish. When a new Clynelish distillery opened in 1968, the original was renamed Brora. |
Whisky identity | Historic old-stock bottlings, not new post reopening spirit |
Visiting | Check the current official visiting arrangements before travelling. |
Join the Brora whisky community poll
Which whiskies have you tried? What should Whisky Clan review next? Open the highlighted poll below, answer four quick questions and share your preferences with the community.
TAKE THE BRORA COMMUNITY POLL · 4 QUICK QUESTIONS
Answer four quick questions to see real reader percentages. No account or email is required.
Where is Brora Distillery?
Brora Distillery is in the village of Brora in Sutherland. Its address is Brora, KW9 6LR. Diageo's visitor information says it lies along the North Coast 500 route, about an hour's drive north of Inverness.
Brora history: 1819 to today
The distillery was built in 1819 by the Marquess of Stafford. For most of its life it was known as Clynelish. When a new Clynelish distillery opened in 1968, the original was renamed Brora.
George Lawson and his sons took over in 1846. In 1896 the distillery was sold to the Glasgow blender James Ainslie and his business partner John Risk. In 1912 The Distillers Company joined John Risk, and it took full control in 1925.
Between May 1969 and July 1973 Brora made a heavily peated whisky for blending. Wikipedia says this covered a shortage of Islay whisky caused by a drought on the island. Most of the whisky made after 1973 is in a lightly peated Highland style.
Production stopped in early 1983 and the distillery was mothballed. In 2014 the 1972 Brora 40 year old was released at a retail price of 7,000 pounds, which Wikipedia describes as the most expensive single malt Diageo had released at that point.
On 9 October 2017 Diageo announced it would reopen Brora, with production due to resume in 2020. On 19 May 2021 it was announced that the reopening was complete and the first new cask of spirit had been filled.
Who owns Brora Distillery?
Brora is part of Diageo, the successor to The Distillers Company. Diageo runs it as one of its Malts brand homes.
What kind of whisky is Brora?
Diageo describes Brora as a rare Highland single malt known for a waxy texture, a lightly peated character and a coastal influence. Production is limited.
Can you visit Brora Distillery?
Yes, but only by appointment. Diageo's Malts site says walk-in visitors cannot be accommodated and the experience is suitable for over 18s only. Tours are small group. The experiences listed at the time of writing were:
Brora Awakened: 1.5 hours, from 225 pounds per person
Brora Revealed: 2.5 hours, from 450 pounds per person
The Eras of Brora: 4.5 hours, from 900 pounds per person
Brora by Night: 4.5 hours, from 900 pounds per person
Prices and availability were read on 20 October 2026 and can change. Bookings are made through the Malts site, and the visits email is brora.visits@diageo.com.
Brora Distillery FAQ
Is Brora the same as Clynelish? They were once one name. The original distillery was called Clynelish until the new Clynelish opened next door in 1968. The old distillery was then renamed Brora.
When did Brora reopen? Diageo announced the reopening was complete on 19 May 2021, with the first new cask filled.
Why did Brora make peated whisky in the early 1970s? According to Wikipedia, a drought on Islay caused a shortage of Islay whisky for blending, and Brora made a heavily peated style from 1969 to 1973 to cover it.
From Clynelish to Brora
According to The Single Cask's October 2026 guide, the distillery was built in 1819 by the Marquess of Stafford under the name Clynelish, on Scotland's north-east coast in Sutherland. George Lawson and his sons ran it from 1846. James Ainslie and John Risk bought it in 1896, and the Distillers Company took full control in 1925.
In 1967 and 1968 the Distillers Company built a new, larger Clynelish next door. The original site kept running under a new name, Brora, to tell the two apart.
Timeline
1819: built as Clynelish by the Marquess of Stafford.
1846: George Lawson and his sons take over.
1896: James Ainslie and John Risk buy the distillery.
1925: the Distillers Company takes full control.
1967 to 1968: a new Clynelish is built alongside and the original is renamed Brora.
1969 to 1973: Brora makes heavily peated whisky to cover an Islay shortage caused by drought.
1983: mothballed, along with many distilleries across the industry.
October 2017: Diageo announces a restoration project.
May 2021: the reopened distillery fills its first new cask in 38 years.
The reopening
The guide reports a restoration cost of about 35 million pounds. It says Diageo kept the original stills and equipment where possible, with the stated aim of recreating the pre-1983 spirit character. Older Brora bottlings mostly come through Diageo's Special Releases, plus scarce independent bottlings. The guide notes a 1972 vintage 40 year old released in 2014 at 7,000 pounds.
Visiting
The guide says access is limited and usually by appointment. Brora is a working production site rather than a general visitor centre. Check with Diageo before travelling.
Sources and gaps
Further sources checked 20 October 2026: The Single Cask guide 'Brora Distillery: Silent for 38 Years, Reborn for 35 Million' (12 October 2026). Gaps: Diageo's own pages were not read, so current stills, capacity, range and visit booking details are unconfirmed. The 35 million pound figure is reported, not confirmed by Diageo here.
Diageo Malts: malts.com/en-gb/distilleries/brora (read 20 October 2026): location, reopening year, visits, tour list and prices
Wikipedia, Brora distillery (read 20 October 2026): ownership timeline, peated period, 2014 release, 2017 announcement and 2021 filling
Gaps to fill before publishing: still sizes, capacity, mash tun and washback details, current range and ABVs, and the owner chain between Diageo and The Distillers Company, which were not confirmed from an official source
What makes Brora distinctive?
Historic old-stock bottlings, not new post reopening spirit.
Brora whisky bottles and releases
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Brora 35 Year Old | 35 years | Check bottle | Historic or limited release. Confirm current availability. |
Brora 40 Year Old | 40 years | Check bottle | Historic or limited release. Confirm current availability. |
The table records named expressions, not live stock. Bottle strength and cask treatment can vary by market and release. Always consult the producer.
More distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Brora
Where is Brora based?
Highlands, Scotland.
Who owns Brora?
Diageo.
What is notable about Brora?
Historic old-stock bottlings, not new post reopening spirit.
Which bottles does Brora have?
Brora 35 Year Old, Brora 40 Year Old. Releases and availability change.
Can you visit Brora?
Check the distillery's official visitor or tour information before making travel plans.
Sources and editorial checks
The original history, references and research remain in this guide. Whisky range and visitor information may change.
Help us improve this distillery guide
Know something we should add or correct about Brora Distillery? Share verified facts, bottle releases, awards or useful sources using the form below. Newsletter subscription is optional.
If the embedded form does not display, Open the contribution form in a new tab.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
Comments