Invergordon Distillery: History, Owner and Grain Whisky Guide
Updated: 23 hours ago
Invergordon is a grain whisky distillery in the Highlands that supplies whisky for blends. This guide covers its history, owner and the questions people ask most.
In this guide
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Invergordon at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Location / region | Highland, Scotland |
Owner / producer | Whyte & Mackay |
History | Founded in 1959 and production began in 1961. |
Style | Single grain Scotch whisky |
Bottles documented | The Invergordon 14 Year Old, The Invergordon 18 Year Old, The Invergordon 21 Year Old |
Before visiting | Check current public access, tour availability and opening hours directly with the producer. |
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Where is Invergordon Distillery?
Invergordon is at Invergordon in Easter Ross, Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland.
Invergordon history
The distillery was established in 1959 and started operations in 1961. Along with Tamnavulin in Speyside it provides whisky for the company's blended Scotch brands. In July 2023 Whyte and Mackay announced the expansion of its whisky maturation complex at Invergordon, doubling its footprint from 45.4 hectares to 92 hectares.
Who owns Invergordon?
The distillery is operated by Whyte and Mackay, which is owned by the Philippines based Alliance Global.
Production
Stills: three Coffey stills.
Water source: Loch Glass.
Capacity: 36,000,000 litres.
Official website
A grain distillery in malt country
ScotchWhisky.com's Whiskypedia says grain distilling has long been a speciality of central Scotland, so finding a grain plant in the far north east is a surprise. After the Navy left Invergordon in 1956, the town needed jobs. The deep water port, local cereal crops and the North American Scotch boom made it a good site. Invergordon Distillers was founded in 1959 and the distillery began operations in 1961.
Ben Wyvis, Glengyle and Frank McHardy
The Ben Wyvis malt distillery started on the same site four years later and closed in 1977. Its stills are now at Glengyle in Campbeltown, a distillery set up by industry figure Frank McHardy, who began his career at Invergordon.
Ownership
Invergordon Distillers went through a series of owners before Whyte and Mackay absorbed it in 1993. Whiskypedia lists Whyte and Mackay Group as owner and Emperador Distillers Inc as parent company since 2014. The Single Cask adds that the takeover battle ran about two years and that Emperador paid a reported £430 million for the group.
How Invergordon makes its whisky
Grain: wheat and maize.
Distillation: three Coffey stills.
Fermentation: around 70 hours.
New make: 94.4% strength, filled at 71%.
Water: Loch Glass.
Capacity: 36 million litres a year.
Supplies: all Whyte and Mackay blends and many other industry blends.
The range
Whiskypedia says a 10 year old single grain, The Invergordon, launched in 1990 and was aimed at women, but was withdrawn a few years later. The official site now lists 14, 18 and 21 year old expressions, and describes Invergordon as the only single grain distillery in the Highlands and the northernmost grain distillery in Scotland. It says single grain is made from a mix of malted and unmalted grains in column stills, in a similar way to bourbon.
Visiting
Invergordon is not open to the public. Its address is Golf View Terrace, Invergordon, IV18 0HP. Dalmore and Glenmorangie both welcome visitors nearby.
Invergordon FAQ
Where is Invergordon distillery?
At Invergordon in Easter Ross, Highland, Scotland.
Who owns Invergordon?
It is operated by Whyte and Mackay, owned by Alliance Global.
When was it established?
In 1959, with operations starting in 1961.
What does it make?
Grain whisky, used mainly in blends.
Further sources checked and gaps
Further sources checked: ScotchWhisky.com Whiskypedia Invergordon entry (loaded), invergordonwhisky.com home page (loaded), The Single Cask Invergordon guide (loaded). Whisky Advocate and Whiskybase were not tried.
Gaps and conflicts to check before publishing: the company was founded in 1959 (Whiskypedia, The Single Cask) or 1960 (Whiskypedia's company entry). The existing draft names Alliance Global as owner of Whyte and Mackay, while the sources checked name Emperador, so confirm the corporate chain. No ABVs for the 14, 18 and 21 year old were verified and no prices were checked.
Photo credit
Cover photo: Invergordon distillery, via Wikimedia Commons, used under a Creative Commons licence.
Sources
What makes Invergordon distinctive?
Highland grain spirit distillery; range and stock vary by market and time
Invergordon bottle and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
The Invergordon 14 Year Old | 14 years | Check label | Highland grain spirit distillery; range and stock vary by market and time |
The Invergordon 18 Year Old | 18 years | Check label | Highland grain spirit distillery; range and stock vary by market and time |
The Invergordon 21 Year Old | 21 years | Check label | Highland grain spirit distillery; range and stock vary by market and time |
Bottle ranges, casks and strengths change. The table lists documented releases, not guaranteed current stock; check the producer's labels and latest information.
More whisky distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Invergordon
Where is Invergordon distillery?
At Invergordon in Easter Ross, Highland, Scotland.
Who owns Invergordon?
It is operated by Whyte and Mackay, owned by Alliance Global.
When was it established?
In 1959, with operations starting in 1961.
What does it make?
Grain whisky, used mainly in blends.
Where is Invergordon based?
Highland, Scotland. See the location section for the detailed site address.
Sources and editorial checks
Original research, references and historical qualifications have been retained in this article. Visitor details and expression availability are date-sensitive.
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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. |
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