Ben Wyvis
Highland
Scotland
About
Short-lived malt distillery built within the Invergordon grain complex.
History
The Invergordon grain distillery was built by Invergordon Distillers in 1961 in response to soaring demand for bulk grain whisky for blends. Four years later a malt whisky distillery, Ben Wyvis, was built within the complex to provide malt whisky for the Whyte & Mackay blend. It was named after a lost distillery (which was also known as Ferintosh), in nearby Dingwall, which closed in 1926.
Ben Wyvis was here and gone in a flash – by 1976, after just 11 years’ operation, it was permanently demolished. Its stills were saved, and eventually transferred to Glengyle distillery in Campbeltown.
Timeline
- 1959 Invergordon distillery is founded by Invergordon Distillers
- 1960 Invergordon's ownership passes to London Merchant Securities, which takes over construction of the distillery
- 1961 Invergordon distillery is opened with just one Coffey still in operation
- 1965 The distillery is passed back to the control of invergordon Distillers (Holdings) Ltd, which builds Ben Wyvis malt distillery within the complex
- 1976 After just 11 years operation, Ben Wyvis distillery is demolished
Production facts
- Grist Weight (t)
- 2
- Malt Specification
- unpeated
- Spirit Still Size (l)
- 10,000
- Stills
- 2
- Wash Still Size (l)
- 10,000
- Washback Type
- Cast iron
- Washbacks
- 6
Ownership
Current owner
Whyte and Mackay Group
Parent company
Emperador Distillers Inc
Previous owners (1)
Invergordon Distillers
1965–1993
