In the rapid flow of life there are moments of stillness. In the early mornings, the silence of the dawn, the beauty of a crashing wave. In the quiet reflection by a roaring open fire, the deep connection between friends sharing a great scotch. Like a tranquil pool in the bend of a rushing river. This is the spirit of Bladnoch. For over 207 years: Still, in flow.

Bladnoch Distillery was established in 1817, making it the oldest privately owned Scotch whisky distillery in the world. As the southernmost distillery in Scotland, Bladnoch is commonly referred to as the ‘Queen of the Lowlands.’ Hand-crafted using malt from British growers and the pristine water from the River Bladnoch which flows alongside the distillery, Bladnoch single malts are non-chill filtered to ensure the truest flavours shine through. This legacy brand has been revived in recent years by Master Distiller, Dr Nick Savage, formerly of The Macallan, and owner David Prior, who purchased Bladnoch Distillery in 2015 and is the first Australian businessman to own a Scotch whisky distillery. The team at Bladnoch are truly passionate about the preservation of the environment and the local community’s generational involvement in this iconic distillery.

Address:

Bladnoch, Dumfries & Galloway DG8 9AB

This distillery is included as part of our Dumfries, Galloway & The Borders Tour.

Opening Hours:

• Visitor Centre Tue-Sat 10am-5pm
• Café Melba Tue-Sat 10am-4pm

Podcast:

In April 2025 we spoke to Nick Savage, Master Distiller and Head of Operations at Bladnoch Distillery.

Nick tells us all about Bladnoch’s history, stunning setting and its 2015 ‘resurrection’, describing it as a ‘brand new, 200 year old distillery’!

We learn that Nick’s mantra is ‘taste first’ and how that flows through everything the distillery produces - from the floral, fruity and refreshing Vinaya to the The Wave - which is the second release in the exciting Master Distiller’s collection.

Tours:

CLASSIC TOUR & TASTE £25

Discover how Bladnoch and Pure Scot whiskies are crafted with our Classic Tour. Step inside our distillery, home to over 200 years of history, and explore the key stages of production, from grain to glass.

Tours start at 11am, 1pm and 3pm Tuesday to Saturday

Duration: 1hr

THE SPIRITED TOUR £55

This experience takes a deeper dive into the stories, people, and traditions that have shaped Bladnoch since 1817, along with a guided route through our production site to see each stage of our whisky-making process. End the tour with an in-depth tasting of four Bladnoch expressions exclusively from the Master Distillers’ limited editions and single cask whiskies.

Only available Fridays, 11:30am

Duration: 1.5hrs

TASTE FIRST EXPERIENCE £20

Bladnoch’s Taste First Experience offers an in-depth walk through of our core whiskies. In a small group of six, you’ll enjoy drams together while hearing the stories that have shaped them, and discover what makes our Bold Galloway Spirit so distinctive.

Tuesday to Saturday, 4pm

Duration: 30mins