Ardross
Full Highlands food & drink guide — distilleries, restaurants, where to stay, when to go.
A Highland distillery built on the ruins of a 19th-century farmstead near Loch Dubh, drawing its water from the loch behind it. Ardross runs unusually long 120-hour fermentations in six Douglas fir washbacks and a pair of tall copper stills, both fitted with reflux balls — a rare thing on a wash still.
Ardross is one of the new Highland distilleries built for spirit character rather than for visitors. Owner Greenwood Distillers describes long 120-hour fermentations with a proprietary yeast, six Douglas fir washbacks, and reflux balls on both the wash and spirit stills — the wash-still ball is the unusual part, and it is what the distillery credits for a spirit that is light and complex at the same time. Casks come from the USA, Spain and Japan. The site publishes no core range and no visitor information; what it sells today is cask ownership through The Ardross Single Cask Society, plus a Loch Dubh collection of old and rare single casks the distillery describes itself as the custodian of rather than the distiller.
How it’s made
- Stills
- 2
- Water source
- Loch Dubh
Water is drawn from Loch Dubh, immediately behind the distillery, for the whole process. Scottish barley, malted to the distillery's own specification. Fermentation runs 120 hours on a proprietary yeast in six Douglas fir washbacks. A pair of tall copper stills, wash and spirit, both with reflux balls. Filling into American, Spanish and Japanese oak.
Where to stay near Ardross
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of Ardross.
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Location
Frequently asked questions
+Can you visit Ardross distillery?
No — Ardross publishes no tours, no opening hours and no visitor centre on its own website (checked 15 September 2026). The distillery's public offer is cask ownership through The Ardross Single Cask Society. Contact the distillery directly if you want to arrange anything.
+Who owns Ardross distillery?
Greenwood Distillers Limited, which names itself as the operator in the privacy notice on the distillery's own site. greenwooddistillers.com redirects to theardross.com.
+Is there an Ardross single malt to buy?
Not as a core range. The distillery's site lists no standard bottlings. The Loch Dubh Deluxe Collection it sells is a collection of old and rare single casks Ardross describes itself as custodian of, not Ardross's own distillate.
+What makes the Ardross spirit different?
Two things the distillery names itself: 120-hour fermentations — very long by industry standards — in six Douglas fir washbacks, and reflux balls on both stills. A reflux ball on a wash still is unusual, and Ardross credits it for a spirit that is light and complex at once.
Other Highland distilleries
Oban
A tiny two-still distillery sitting right in the middle of the town it’s named after. Oban bridges Highland and West Coast island character — gently smoky, salty, fruity.
The Dalmore
The Highland distillery that appears on more end-of-year gift lists than any other. Dalmore is famous for heavy sherry-cask maturation and extremely serious prices at the top of its range.
Glenmorangie
Home to the tallest stills in Scotland — nearly five metres — which produces a notably light, fragrant spirit. Glenmorangie is one of the best-selling single malts in Scotland full stop.
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