Glen Ord
Full Highlands food & drink guide — distilleries, restaurants, where to stay, when to go.
A large working Diageo distillery at Muir of Ord on the Black Isle, north of Inverness. Its own malt floors were retired in 1983, and today a big industrial maltings next door malts barley for Glen Ord and other Diageo distilleries. Home of The Singleton of Glen Ord (an Asia-focused brand), with Distiller's Editions occasionally available for enthusiasts. A purpose-built visitor centre opened in 2021.
Glen Ord is a large Black Isle distillery whose single malt is sold as The Singleton of Glen Ord — soft, malty and lightly fruity, and hugely popular across Southeast Asia. Its own floor maltings closed in 1983; the big industrial maltings next door now supplies Glen Ord and other Diageo malts, so the scale here is industrial rather than romantic. A visitor centre opened in 2021, making it an easy trip from Inverness. Official UK bottlings and Distiller's Editions surface only occasionally.
Visiting Glen Ord
Contact distillery
Muir of Ord, Ross-shire
IV6 7UJ
- Shop
- Café/Restaurant
- Parking
Core range
Singleton of Glen Ord 12
40% ABV · Bourbon + sherry
Sold mainly in Asia under the Singleton brand. The 12 is dessert-sweet — chocolate-raisin profile distinct from most Speysides.
- Nose:
- Sweet — chocolate, raisin, oak, gentle malt.
- Palate:
- Smooth — chocolate, raisin, oak, soft sherry.
- Finish:
- Medium, sweet, drying.
Singleton of Glen Ord 15
40% ABV · Bourbon + sherry, longer maturation
More body and sherry depth than the 12. Worth the price step.
- Nose:
- Dried fruit, oak, soft chocolate, vanilla.
- Palate:
- Richer than 12 — sherry, dark fruit, oak, gentle spice.
- Finish:
- Medium-long, drying, sweet.
Character & reputation
A large working Diageo distillery at Muir of Ord on the Black Isle, and the only one of The Singleton's homes open to the public. Its single malt is sold as The Singleton of Glen Ord — a soft, malty, lightly fruity Highland aimed largely at Asian markets, where it sells strongly; official UK bottlings and Distiller's Editions surface only occasionally. Next door sits one of Diageo's biggest maltings, which supplies malt to Talisker, Clynelish and others, so the industrial scale is part of the story here rather than any romantic floor-malting. A purpose-built visitor centre opened in 2021, and it's an easy trip from Inverness (train to Muir of Ord, then a ten-minute walk). Best for Inverness day-trippers and Singleton drinkers.
Food pairings
| Whisky | Food | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Singleton 12 | Honey-glazed gammon or pork | The light, accessible style suits sweet pork dishes. |
Getting there
Car or bus. Muir of Ord on the A832, 20 min north-west of Inverness.
Where to eat nearby
- Muir of Ord villageArea
Small town — basic facilities.
- Inverness restaurantsArea
Full range in Inverness, 20 min south-east.
Where to stay near Glen Ord
Glen Ord is at Muir of Ord, 12 miles west of Inverness in the Black Isle approach. Inverness is the obvious base — 20 minutes by car, train connections to Edinburgh and the Far North. The Black Isle Brewery is 8 miles away for a beer-and-whisky day. Beauly (2 miles) has a small priory and a handful of cafés.
Country house hotel near Muir of Ord.
Full range in Inverness, 20 min.
Where to stay near Glen Ord
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of Glen Ord.
Booking links are affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Location
Muir of Ord, Ross-shire, IV6 7UJ
View on map →Frequently asked questions
+What are floor maltings?
Traditional malting where barley is spread out on a stone floor and turned by hand using wooden shovels (shiels) over several days to allow germination. Almost all distilleries now buy pre-malted barley.
+Where is Glen Ord distillery?
Glen Ord is in the Highlands. Postcode IV6.
+When was Glen Ord distillery founded?
Glen Ord was founded in 1838, making it roughly 188 years old.
Compare with similar distilleries
The Singleton range is positioned similarly to Glenmorangie and Dalwhinnie for accessible, well-marketed Highland.
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.
Dalwhinnie
One of the highest and coldest distilleries in Scotland, a Diageo Classic Malt right on the A9 between Perth and Inverness. Honeyed, gentle, slightly waxy — a reliable easy sipper.
Other distilleries owned by Diageo
Distilleries that share Glen Ord's corporate parent — useful context if you're comparing house styles within an owner's stable.
Lagavulin
Iconic Islay distillery on the southern shore, Lagavulin produces some of the most intensely peated, deeply maritime whisky in Scotland. The 16 Year Old is a benchmark Islay dram.
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.
Cardhu
Founded by Helen Cumming and the spiritual home of Johnnie Walker, Cardhu is a smooth, easy, fruit-forward Speyside that punches well above its weight as a beginner single malt.
Cragganmore
One of Diageo’s six ‘Classic Malts’. Cragganmore is unusually complex for an entry-age Speyside thanks to its short, flat-topped stills and unique condensing setup.
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.
Mortlach
Known as ‘the Beast of Dufftown’ for its uniquely complex 2.81-times distillation regime. Big, meaty, sulphury, sherry-influenced — the polar opposite of typical ‘light Speyside’.
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