GlenWyvis Distillery
About the distillery
GlenWyvis Distillery sits under Ben Wyvis in the Scottish Highlands near Dingwall. It is a community-owned distillery, created as a revival of the area’s whisky tradition and powered by wind, hydropower, solar energy, and biomass. For whisky lovers, it’s especially interesting because the site connects local history, shared ownership, and a clear focus on sustainable production.
History
The story of GlenWyvis begins long before the distillery itself. In 1690, Duncan Forbes is granted permission to distil whisky duty-free on his land by the Cromarty Firth, and in 1784 the privilege is revoked. In 1879, D.G. Ross builds Ben Wyvis Distillery in Dingwall, while Glenskiach opens in 1896 in Evanton. Both close in 1926 during the economic depression, and in 1965 Invergordon revives the name Ben Wyvis as a single malt in its grain complex, before production stops again in 1973. GlenWyvis itself is established in 2015 to revive Dingwall’s lost distilling tradition. The following year, the first share offering raises £2.6 million over 77 days, and in 2017 another round follows, while construction is completed in November the same year. Whisky and gin production starts in 2018, and in 2019 a bottling of New Make Spirit is released, while more than 500 casks stand maturing on site.
Raw materials and production
GlenWyvis works with long ferments and has a clear tendency to use specific wine casks for parts of the whisky. The distillery also describes the new make spirit, which is bottled at 63.5%, exactly as it is filled into casks. It’s a production where the spirit is allowed to remain clean and fresh in its meeting with the casks, and where cask selection is actively used to shape the finished whisky. At the same time, the entire operation is envisioned as a local project, where craftsmanship and community go hand in hand with green energy supply.
Maturation and cask types
Maturation takes place in casks onsite, and GlenWyvis especially highlights the use of speciality wine casks in combination with the long ferments. It provides a framework in which the whisky can develop its character over time, without the distillery locking itself into a single cask profile. That many casks were already standing on site early on also points to a production that works patiently and long-term with the importance of maturation.
Whiskies
The core range is still manageable and centered on GlenWyvis single malt in vintage and batch releases. Batch 01/19 marks the first bottling of the unusually rare 2019 vintage, while Batch 02/18 looks back at earlier years in the development. In addition, there’s New Make Spirit, offering a direct look at the raw spirit before the casks are allowed to leave their mark. The range suits a distillery that is relatively young, but which already works with clear batch differences and a fresh, Highland-leaning style.
| Whisky | Type / series | Alcohol | Cask and style | Tasting profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GlenWyvis Single Malt Whisky Batch 01/19 | Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky | Speciality wine casks | The first batch of an unusually rare 2019 vintage. | Current; Buy Highland Single Malt | |
| GlenWyvis Single Malt Whisky Batch 02/18 | Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky | Current; Explore Previous Releases | |||
| New Make Spirit | New Make Spirit | 63.5 % | Bottling of raw spirit reduced to 63.5%, as it goes into casks. | Historical; Released in 2019 |
The whisky style and tasting profile
The whisky is described as fragrant, fruity, malty, and spicy, and Batch 01/19 also adds a bold floral quality. Overall, it points to a style that combines aromatic fruit, malt fullness, spice, and a distinctly floral layer on top. It’s an expression type where fresh, bright tones are central, more than smoke or heavy cask influence.
Visiting the distillery
GlenWyvis is not open to the public because the distillery is located on private land on a working cattle farm. There is also no physical shop on site. Visitors therefore cannot count on tours or tastings at the address, but the products can be found with local retailers in Dingwall. The office is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and inquiries can be sent directly to the distillery.
The stated opening hours are Office hours: 9am – 5pm Mon to Fri.
Philosophy and craft
GlenWyvis is built on shared ownership, local support, and a clear green operation. The distillery emphasizes that it is 100% community-owned, and that production is powered by wind, hydropower, solar energy, and biomass. At the same time, the goal is to preserve the Highland landscape and carry forward Dingwall’s distilling tradition through a project that is both rooted in the area and created to last.
Sustainability
Operations powered by wind, hydro, solar, and biomass.