Aultmore
Full Speyside food & drink guide — distilleries, restaurants, where to stay, when to go.
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Long a backbone of the Dewar’s blend, Aultmore was relaunched as a single malt in 2014 and quickly developed a cult following for its clean, grassy, almost gin-like character.
Aultmore is Speyside's grassy, coastal secret — producing a spirit with an unusually herbal, gin-like quality that makes it one of the most distinctive unpeated malts in the region. Since the 2014 relaunch as a single malt (previously pure blend component), it's developed a cult following. The 12 Year Old is the pick: complex, distinctive, and fairly priced.
Core range
12 Year Old
46% ABV · American oak refill
Heart-malt of Dewar's, bottled at 46% for the official range. Lean, fruity, almost in Glen Grant territory.
- Nose:
- Bright — apple, pear, soft vanilla, light oak.
- Palate:
- Clean and crisp — green fruit, vanilla, gentle oak.
- Finish:
- Medium, clean, slightly grassy.
18 Year Old
46% ABV · American oak refill, longer maturation
Aged Aultmore — restraint and elegance over richness. For drinkers tired of sherry-dominant premium Speysides.
- Nose:
- Vanilla, soft fruit, oak, faint floral.
- Palate:
- Layered — vanilla, oak, gentle fruit, soft honey.
- Finish:
- Long, drying, gently sweet.
Food pairings
| Whisky | Food | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Asparagus or fresh herb salads |
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Where to eat nearby
- Keith town centreArea
Where to stay near Aultmore
Aultmore is in open farming country between Keith and Buckie on the B9016. Keith is 4 miles away and has rail connections; Buckie (8 miles north) is a fishing town on the Moray Firth coast with B&Bs at reasonable prices. This is one of the less-visited Speyside distilleries — the surrounding countryside is quiet and there's no bottleneck at accommodation.
Where to stay near Aultmore
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of Aultmore.
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Location
Keith, Moray, AB55 6QY
View on map →Frequently asked questions
+What makes Aultmore distinctive?
An unusually grassy, herbal character — almost coastal for an inland Speyside. Thought to be influenced by local water source and fermentation character.
+Is Aultmore open to visitors?
No — production facility only. Keith (10 min north) has Strathisla, which is open for tours as the home of Chivas Regal.
+Where is Aultmore distillery?
Aultmore is in Speyside. Postcode AB55.
+When was Aultmore distillery founded?
Aultmore was founded in 1896, making it roughly 130 years old.
Compare with similar distilleries
The grassy, complex character is closest to Linkwood or Glen Elgin. Distinct from mainstream fruit-forward Speyside.
Glen Elgin
A small Speyside distillery that produces one of the most important blending malts in Scotland — it's the signature malt in White Horse, the blend that once outsold Johnnie Walker in several markets. Glen Elgin's house style is honeyed, floral, and gently waxy, with a sweetness that makes it an excellent beginner's Speyside. The 12-year-old official bottling is reliable but rarely promoted. Independent bottlings from Signatory and Gordon & MacPhail occasionally surface and are worth grabbing.
Linkwood
A workhorse Diageo distillery whose spirit features in many blends but is rarely seen as an official single malt. A favourite of independent bottlers for its perfumed, floral character.
Other distilleries owned by John Dewar & Sons (Bacardi)
Distilleries that share Aultmore's corporate parent — useful context if you're comparing house styles within an owner's stable.
Aberfeldy
The heart of the Dewar’s blend and a notably honey-forward single malt. The visitor centre — ‘Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery’ — is one of the most polished in the Highlands.
Royal Brackla
Founded in 1812 and the first distillery to be granted a Royal Warrant (by William IV in 1835), which is where the 'Royal' prefix comes from. Core range (12, 18, 21) leans sherry-finished and is positioned as a premium single malt. Not open to general visitors.
Craigellachie
Founded in 1891 on a key Speyside junction where the Fiddich meets the Spey. Famous for retaining old-school worm-tub condensers, which give the spirit a distinctive meaty, sulphury character. Not open for tours but the brand is now widely available as a single malt via Dewar's core range (13, 17, 23).
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