The Cairn
Full Highlands food & drink guide — distilleries, restaurants, where to stay, when to go.
Gordon & MacPhail's second distillery (after Benromach), opened in 2022 on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park just outside Grantown-on-Spey. Designed by Scottish architects Organic to sit in the landscape; built for long-maturation releases in the Gordon & MacPhail style.
The Cairn is Gordon & MacPhail's second distillery (after Benromach), opened in 2022 on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park outside Grantown-on-Spey. Its own whisky is a long game: the inaugural First Peek (a 3-year-old, 1,000 bottles) sold out by January 2026, the shop sells CRN57° sourced blended malts in the meantime, and the first core single malt isn't expected until around 2034. The striking building and Cairngorms setting make it a worthwhile visit now.
Visiting The Cairn
Contact distillery
Grantown-on-Spey, Cairngorms
PH26 3LQ
- Shop
- Café/Restaurant
- Parking
Core range
First Peek (inaugural, sold out)
57% ABV · Bourbon casks
The Cairn's true inaugural release: First Peek, a 3-year-old at 57%, £50, limited to 1,000 bottles — sold out by January 2026. Current distillery sales are the CRN57° sourced blended malts; The Cairn's own core single malt isn't due until around 2034.
Food pairings
| Whisky | Food | Why |
|---|---|---|
| CRN57° (sourced blended malt) | Smoked salmon canapés | Clean, accessible blended malt suits light party food. |
Getting there
Car. Just outside Grantown-on-Spey on the A95, on the northern edge of the Cairngorms National Park — 35 min from Aviemore.
Where to stay near The Cairn
The Cairn is just outside Grantown-on-Spey, a handsome Victorian planned town on the northern edge of the Cairngorms. Grantown has a good range of hotels and B&Bs, and Aviemore (35 minutes) adds the full resort options. It pairs naturally with Speyside distilleries to the north and the Cairngorms outdoors to the south.
The map is centred on The Cairn — 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
Grantown-on-Spey, Cairngorms, PH26 3LQ
View on map →Near The Cairn
Things to do nearby, from our sister site TripSCOT, which covers the day-out side. Distances are in a straight line from The Cairn, not by road.
Frequently asked questions
+Is The Cairn a real distillery?
Yes — it's Gordon & MacPhail's second distillery, opened in 2022 just outside Grantown-on-Spey. Its own single malt is still maturing: the inaugural First Peek sold out in January 2026 and the first core release isn't expected until around 2034.
+What is CRN57°?
The blended malt range The Cairn currently sells while its own spirit matures. The whisky inside is sourced, not distilled at The Cairn — an honest stopgap, clearly labelled.
+Where is The Cairn distillery?
The Cairn is in the Highlands, just outside Grantown-on-Spey on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. Postcode PH26.
+When was The Cairn distillery founded?
The Cairn was founded in 2022, making it roughly 4 years old.
Other Highland distilleries
The obvious comparison is sister distillery Benromach — same owner, same patient Gordon & MacPhail approach, but Benromach has two decades of mature stock to show for it.
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.
Other distilleries owned by Gordon & MacPhail
Distilleries that share The Cairn's corporate parent — useful context if you're comparing house styles within an owner's stable.
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