History

A. D. Rattray was founded in 1868 by Andrew Dewar Rattray and has for generations worked with selecting and maturing casks for single malts and blends. Since then, the Morrison family has continued the heritage and expanded with their own products and shops, including a strong connection to the Stronachie name through reviving the lost spirit.

Stronachie: recreation of a long-lost distillery

Stronachie is a Highland single malt that A. D. Rattray has revived by using spirit from the Benrinnes distillery. The new make spirit is matured in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled in small batches as Stronachie 10 Year Old at 43% ABV. Stronachie 10 Year Old presents as a well-balanced dram with notes of honey, malt sweetness and spices, and a finish of pepper and grainy notes.

The meaning of the name and the history behind Stronachie

Stronachie is pronounced Stron-a-key and means in Gaelic either 'prominent nose' or 'headland in the valley'. The Stronachie distillery was built in the 1890s by Alexander & MacDonald in the Ochil Mountains, Perthshire, but closed in 1928. A. D. Rattray decided to reconstruct the lost style and bring Stronachie back to the world through Benrinnes spirit and bourbon casks.

Production and style

The modern Stronachie 10 Year Old is produced by allowing the spirit from Benrinnes to mature in ex-bourbon casks for at least 10 years, and it is bottled in small batches at 43% ABV (700 ml). The aroma is described as soft honey, heath and malt sweetness; the palate as smooth with honey and biscuit notes, followed by pepper and grainy notes on the finish.

Video and storytelling

The story of Stronachie is shown in the video The Creation of Stronachie (link on the page), which illustrates the recreation of the lost spirit and the chain of decisions behind the project.

Products and Series

Stronachie 10 Year Old

• Highland single malt, recreated from the Stronachie name, made with spirit from Benrinnes and matured in ex-bourbon cask.
• 700 ml, 43% ABV.
• Tasting note example: Colour straw gold; Nose: honey, heath and malty sweetness; Palate: smooth with honey and biscuit, finishing with pepper and graininess.

Bank Note (5 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky)

• First produced around 150 years ago; today recreated as a premium 5 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky.
• The blend consists of malt whiskies (40%) from Speyside and Highland and grain whisky (60%) from Lowland, matured in its own wood to achieve a smooth flavour at 43% ABV.
• 700 ml and 43% ABV.
• Nose: clean, crisp aroma with hints of vanilla.
• Mouthfeel: rounded with sugary richness and depth of flavour.
• Finish: clean on the palate with lingering sweetness.

Cask Collection

• Single cask whiskies in focus; four releases per year, about 6–8 casks per collection.
• The casks are bottled at natural colour and without chill filtration; often bottled at higher strength and without added colour.
• Examples of releases include different distilleries and vintages with details such as cask number, distillery region and age statements.

Casks of Scotland and Warehouse Collection

• Casks of Scotland: small batch single malts capturing the regional character (Speyside, Orkney, Islay).
• Warehouse Collection: bin end bottles at good value, single cask and without added colour or chill filtration.
• Both series focus on natural colour and cask strength or 46% ABV in some cases.

From The Cask and Private Label

• From The Cask: personal single cask whiskies, handwritten label, and the option for a personal message on the label; hand-dipped and wax-sealed.
• Private Label: single cask whiskies with customized labels and the option for logo/text, typically 48 to hundreds of bottles, and supplied mainly to UK-registered customers.

About the company and the history behind it

• A. D. Rattray was founded in 1868 and has, for generations, worked with selecting and maturing single malt and grain whiskies.
• The Morrison family has played a leading role in the business and in related projects such as The Clydeside Distillery and the Stronachie connection.
• Since 2002 the Stronachie name has been revived, including releases and storytelling around the lost distillery.

Visits and experiences

• The Whisky Shop in Kirkoswald (on the west coast of Scotland) offers its own award-winning whiskies and selected products, as well as a sample bar where you can taste different whiskies.
• Two cask handles on tap in the shop, where you can tap and seal the bottle with a handwritten label personalized with a name or message.
• Shirts and products related to the Cask Collection and Casks of Scotland are available online.

Philosophy and approach

• The company emphasizes slow maturation and respect for the core of the distillation craft. They speak of patience and careful cask selection, and that single cask whiskies often represent a moment in time that cannot be repeated.
• Stronachie is an example of preserving and reviving history through craftsmanship and careful composition of spirit and cask, without compromising on quality.

Descriptions of experiences and availability

• Products can be bought online in their online shop, with a focus on global distribution via partner networks and stockists.
• There is also information about visits and shopping in Kirkoswald, including opening hours and facilities such as wheelchair-accessible access and parking.

Conclusion

The history and production at A. D. Rattray center around recreating historic names like Stronachie, a strong focus on single cask and cask finish, and a mixed portfolio of blends such as Bank Note. A combination of heritage, craftsmanship and contemporary sales and experiential options reflects the company’s approach to whisky as both a collectible and a pleasure.