Clynelish

Tours

Visit the Clynelish Distillery

The old, original Clynelish distillery was built by the Marquess of Stafford (later the Duke of Sutherland) in 1819, providing a market for barley grown by his tenants. The original site then closed in 1968 to make room for the larger, more modern Brora, which thrived until the early 1980s before closing and then being reestablished in 2021.

The Clynelish distillery we know today sits across the road from Brora and began production in 1969. The Marquess and his tenants have all gone, but the barley that makes Clynelish is still malted in the Northern Highlands and water is still piped down from the Clynemilton Burn to the distillery.

Now, Clynelish proudly serves as one of the Four Corners distilleries of Johnnie Walker. Here, craftspeople distil the rich Highland malt that is enjoyed around the world on its own and as a vital component of Johnnie Walker whiskies.

Take the opportunity to discover the mysterious and hidden spirit of Clynelish’s coastal Sutherland home, where this rich, waxy whisky carrying notes of tropical fruit and honey is distilled.

If you are unable to find a suitable booking time, then please do still visit our retail store and bar where you will receive a warm welcome. Relax with our world-class cocktails, delicious drams, and platters of locally sourced Scottish cuisine alongside some astonishing coastal views.

The interior of a whisky tasting room, wavy wooden panels on the walls and a large rectangular wooden table in the middle of the room. Several chairs and a large wooden box on the table. Purple wall and spotlight on the celling

Two smiling Clynelish employees behind a bar. shelves display assorted whisky bottles, sign saying ‘Clynelish’. On the bar are assorted cocktail shakers and glasses; in front of the bar are three chairs.

A smiling Clynelish employees leans behind a counter on which there is a Clynelish gift bag, two whisky bottles and a water jug. Behind the employee, on the wall, are the words ‘Clynelish, the highland home of Johnnie Walker’.

A man leans over a balcony looking out to the landscape beyond. He holds a highball glass containing a whisky cocktail, ice and a rosemary sprig.

A bottle of Clynelish whisky sits on a wooden tabletop. Behind the bottle is a metal whisky still. Next to the bottle is a dram glass containing whisky.

Visit

Book a Tour

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Plan your visit

Everything you need for a seamless trip to Clynelish

Find all the information you need to book, plan and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime Clynelish experience. Advanced booking is highly recommended to avoid disappointment.

Getting Here

Address: Clynelish Distillery, Brora, Sutherland, KW9 6LR, UK

Clynelish distillery is approximately 1.5 hours drive north of Inverness on the A9 and NC 500 route on the edge of the village of Brora. Public transport options are limited to reach the distillery, although there is a bus stop (X99) and train station in the village of Brora. It is a 25-minute walk from the bus stop and/or train station to the distillery.

We recommend visiting Traveline Scotland to plan your route and to stay up to date on transport options.

Read more at https://travelinescotland.com/

Opening Hours

Please note that during winter the distillery may have to close at short notice due to weather conditions. Please check our Google listing for up-to-date information before you visit us.

October | Tuesday – Saturday | 10:00 – 17:00

November – February | Tuesday – Saturday | 10:00 – 16:00

March - April | Tuesday – Saturday | 10:00 – 17:00

Special Christmas hours apply to the following dates only:

24th December | 10:00 – 15:00
25th & 26th December & 1st & 2nd January | Closed

Eat & Drink

Explore the flavours of Clynelish and discover your perfect serve, whether you’re a whisky dram loyalist, innovative cocktail enthusiast, or aficionado of alcohol-free quenchers.

The bar at Clynelish is open 10:00 – 16:00 during the distillery’s opening hours. Last orders are at 15:45.

Please note that all under 18s need to be accompanied by an adult.

Sustainability

At Clynelish distillery in Brora, we’re honoured to have received the UK’s highest eco-tourism award in our journey to a greener future. Our distillery and visitor experience earned the prestigious gold certification from Green Tourism for our sustainable practices.

We were recognised for our efforts to encourage sustainable travel, including the installation of cycle racks and planned electric vehicle charging points for all our future visitors. Following a distillery upgrade, old pumps and motors were replaced with new, more energy efficient equipment. Which means that, combined with the introduction of low energy lighting and lighting sensor activation, Clynelish has recorded electrical savings of approximately 3874 KWh per week.

Accessibility & Dog Policy

We’re pleased to have consulted Euan’s Guide to ensure that we provide disabled access information upfront to give all our visitors the confidence to visit our distillery and enjoy the experience. Please do let us know if you have any specific requirements at the time of your booking and a member of staff will be in touch.

Accessible Parking

We have 3 accessible parking spaces which are located within approximately 30 metres of the entrance to Clynelish. There are no obstacles between these spaces and entering the building.

Accessible Areas

We also have a ramp at our entrance and a lift to the first floor (with a door width of 90cm) where you can visit our Coastal Tasting Room. Unfortunately, the tour route is not fully accessible due to some stairs however we are working on a virtual experience to share with visitors who cannot access the working distillery. We have braille signage available throughout the building and an induction loop system available in our Storyroom as part of the tour experience for visitors who may wish to use this. Please ask one of our guides when you visit if you would like to use the induction loop system or if you have any queries.

Accessible Experiences

Our experiences are quite engaging and immersive. Some of the experiences include theatrical lights and projection effects. This is a tour for everyone so if you have any concerns or require any other needs please get in touch or add a comment at time of booking and we will work to accommodate.

Accessible Toilets

An accessible toilet is available and our facilities include a red cord and handrails. Unfortunately, we do not have accessible changing facilities.

Assistance Animals

Guide and assistance dogs are welcome however, due to health & safety regulations, animals are not permitted in the production areas of the distillery. If you are visiting us with a guide or assistance dog, we are happy to make reasonable adjustments to our tours to ensure you have an enjoyable, and above all safe, experience. Please let us know if any specific requirements at time of booking so we can endeavour to deliver a positive visitor experience.

Dog Policy

Well behaved dogs are welcome in our shops and bars. Please ensure your dog is under control, and closely supervised by a responsible adult at all times.

Dogs must be kept on a short lead and must not be allowed to climb on furniture or touch the items in our shop.

Please understand that not everyone likes dogs and/or could have an allergy to your pet - please keep a respectful distance from our team and our other visitors.

Dogs are not permitted in any back of house areas.

Due to the size of our bars and shops, we may need to limit the number of dogs permitted inside at any one time.

We reserve the right to ask you to leave should we have any concerns over your dogs’ behaviour or if your dog is disrupting other guests.

Telephone | 01408 623000

Email | clynelish@malts.com

Gift inspiration

Give the gift of whisky

The Whisky Gift Card lets your loved ones choose the gift they’d like from our broad range of whiskies and merchandise available at our visitor experiences. Gift cards are available to purchase at the retail area within the distillery.

View full terms and conditions

Terms and conditions

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