Strathearn Distillery
Full Highlands food & drink guide — distilleries, restaurants, where to stay, when to go.
A small Perthshire distillery that changed the rules about scale in Scottish whisky. Strathearn was one of the first modern micro-distilleries in Scotland, proving that viable whisky could be made at a fraction of the volume of traditional operations. Bought by independent bottler Douglas Laing in 2019, who brought blending expertise and distribution muscle. The whisky is light, fruity, and Highland in character. The combination of a micro-distillery and an independent bottler under one roof is unique in Scotland.
Strathearn is a small Perthshire distillery near Methven — one of Scotland's most innovative craft operations, producing Highland whisky, gin, and experimental spirits from a farm setting. The Highland Heather Honey Spirit and various cask experiments have built a reputation for quality that punches well above the tiny production volume. Now owned by Douglas Laing.
Visiting Strathearn Distillery
—
- Shop
- Café/Restaurant
- Parking
Core range
Single Malt Batch 02
Various — small-batch cask programme
The current release. Douglas Laing's inaugural Strathearn single malt landed in 2024 at 46.6%; Batch 02 follows it at around £85.
Food pairings
| Whisky | Food | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Strathearn Highland | Perthshire honey cake or shortbread | The floral, light Highland spirit suits Perthshire honey baking. |
Getting there
Car. Methven village on the A85, 10 miles west of Perth.
Where to eat nearby
- Perth city centreArea
10 miles east — good range of restaurants in Perth.
Where to stay near Strathearn Distillery
Strathearn Distillery is in Methven, a small Perthshire village 7 miles west of Perth. Perth has good accommodation and city amenities. Crieff (8 miles west) and Auchterarder (15 miles south) are alternatives. The Perthshire countryside and Loch Earn are within easy range.
Country house hotel near Methven.
Full range in Perth, 10 miles east.
Where to stay near Strathearn Distillery
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of Strathearn Distillery.
Booking links are affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Location
Frequently asked questions
+Does Douglas Laing ownership change the character?
Douglas Laing acquired Strathearn in 2019 but has maintained the small-batch craft approach. Distribution has improved; the quality and experimental ethos continue.
+Where is Strathearn Distillery distillery?
Strathearn Distillery is in the Highlands.
+When was Strathearn Distillery distillery founded?
Strathearn Distillery was founded in 2013, making it roughly 13 years old.
Compare with similar distilleries
Craft scale and innovation closest to Dornoch. Perthshire context shared with Glenturret and Tullibardine.
The Glenturret
Claims to be Scotland's oldest working distillery with operations dating to 1763 at The Hosh near Crieff. Formerly the spiritual home of Famous Grouse before being acquired by French crystal house Lalique in 2019 and repositioned as an ultra-premium single malt — now with a Michelin-starred on-site restaurant.
Tullibardine
Founded in 1949 by William Delmé-Evans on the site of a 1488 brewery reputedly supplying beer to the young James IV. French-owned since 2011, which shows up in the wine-cask-finished core range (225 Sauternes, 228 Burgundy). Sits right on the A9.
Dornoch
A tiny distillery built into a converted fire station next to Dornoch Castle Hotel by brothers Phil and Simon Thompson, known for heritage barley varieties, floor maltings, and direct-fired stills — a near-total throwback to pre-industrial whisky making. Output is miniscule; releases sell out on announcement.
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