Longmorn
Full Speyside food & drink guide — distilleries, restaurants, where to stay, when to go.
A whisky-geek favourite often spoken of in the same breath as the great old Speysides. Most of its output goes into Chivas blends; the official single malts were relaunched around 2024 as a cask-strength 18 and a 22 Year Old, both firmly in premium territory.
Longmorn is the whisky geek's Speyside — a distillery whose spirit is good enough to be a primary component in several premium blends, whose official bottlings (now a cask-strength 18 and a 22, after the old 16 and the Secret Speyside 18 were retired) have moved firmly upmarket, and whose independent bottlings (particularly from Gordon & MacPhail) are among the finest Speyside expressions available. Rich, complex, and criminally undervalued.
Core range
18 Year Old (2024 relaunch)
57.6% ABV · Bourbon + sherry casks
The relaunched official 18 — now at a cask-strength 57.6% and firmly premium-priced (£250+). The old 48% Secret Speyside 18 was discontinued around 2024.
22 Year Old
54.5% ABV · Bourbon + sherry casks
The senior expression of the relaunched official range, at 54.5% — premium-priced (£250+) like its 18-year-old sibling.
Food pairings
| Whisky | Food | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Year Old | Roast duck or game bird | Rich, complex spirit suits roasted game. |
Getting there
Car essential. South of Elgin on the B9010.
Elgin station is 3.6km away — a short taxi or bus ride from the platform. (Distance as the crow flies; actual walking route may differ.)
Elgin station travel guide on TripSCOTWhere to eat nearby
- Elgin town centreArea
10 min north.
Where to stay near Longmorn
Longmorn is at the Longmorn crossroads on the A941, 5 miles south of Elgin. Elgin is the practical overnight base. The distillery is primarily production-focused with limited visitor access; the combination with nearby BenRiach and Glen Moray makes a compact northern Speyside circuit from Elgin.
Elgin centre.
The Speyside whisky hotel.
The map is centred on Longmorn — set your dates on it, or go straight to hotels, B&Bs and self-catering through the providers underneath.
Booking links are affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Location
Elgin, Moray, IV30 8SJ
View on map →Near Longmorn
Things to do nearby, from our sister site TripSCOT, which covers the day-out side. Distances are in a straight line from Longmorn, not by road.
- ElginTown4 km
- Spynie PalaceCastle6 km
- Covesea BeachBeach10 km
- Lossiemouth East BeachBeach11 km
- ForresTown21 km
Nearest station: Elgin (4 km)
Frequently asked questions
+Why is Longmorn not better known?
Most production goes to Chivas blends — the single malt is a secondary priority for Pernod Ricard.
+Is Longmorn open to visitors?
No — production facility without a visitor centre. The quality of the whisky isn't reflected in any visitor experience.
+Where is Longmorn distillery?
Longmorn is in Speyside. Postcode IV30.
+When was Longmorn distillery founded?
Longmorn was founded in 1894, making it roughly 132 years old.
Compare with similar distilleries
Spirit quality rivals Glenfarclas and Benriach. The complexity is closer to old-style Speyside than modern approachable expressions.
Glenfarclas
One of the few remaining family-owned Speyside distilleries, still in the hands of the Grant family after six generations. Famous for sherry-cask whisky at fair prices, especially the 15 and 25.
BenRiach
One of the most experimental distilleries in Speyside — making peated, unpeated and triple-distilled spirit on the same site, and famous for adventurous wine-cask finishes.
Other distilleries owned by Pernod Ricard
Distilleries that share Longmorn's corporate parent — useful context if you're comparing house styles within an owner's stable.
The Glenlivet
The first legal distillery in the parish under the 1823 Excise Act, and one of the largest single malt brands in the world. Glenlivet sits at the centre of Speyside both geographically and historically.
Aberlour
A Speyside favourite for sherry-cask fans, best known internationally for the cask-strength A’bunadh series. Sweet, rich, and notably big-bodied for the region.
Strathisla
Often called the prettiest distillery in Scotland and the official home of Chivas Regal. Strathisla is one of the oldest continuously operating distilleries in the country.
Miltonduff
A massive Pernod Ricard workhorse on the western edge of Elgin, producing spirit primarily for the Ballantine’s blend. Rarely seen as an official single malt.
Glentauchers
An almost invisible Speyside distillery whose spirit goes mostly into Ballantine’s. A favourite of independent bottlers for its delicate, fruity character.
Scapa
Orkney's less famous distillery, sitting on the shore of Scapa Flow a few miles south of Highland Park. Produces unpeated, honeyed, coastal spirit — a stylistic counterpoint to its neighbour. The NAS-era Skiren and Glansa are gone: since November 2024 the core range is a trio of 10, 16 and 21 year old age statements. Tours run Tuesday to Sunday, with the Noust tasting room open alongside.
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