Invergordon

Invergordon is a large single grain Scotch whisky distillery located in the north Highlands. It is one of just six dedicated single grain distilleries in Scotland. They produce all of the single grain spirit needed for the blended whisky industry. Single grain is used by blenders as a foundation to build their blend around.

Invergordon is used significantly in the Whyte & Mackay range of blends. As a result, bottlings of their single grain whisky are rare and restricted to independent bottling companies. This makes them highly sought after and collectable for whisky enthusiasts.   

Invergordon is known for its sweet, delicate and fruity spirit with notes of green apple, vanilla and honey. Older expressions exhibit notes of butterscotch, tropical fruit and delicate woody spices. The majority of Invergordon's single grain whisky is matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels. This barrel type compliments and accentuates the delicate aroma and flavour profiles.   

Invergordon is massive in Scotch whisky terms and produces 40 million litres of spirit per year. They use unmalted wheat to make their whisky, as opposed to barley that is used to produce single malt. The wheat is heated and cooked to convert the starch to sugar. The fermentation time is 70 hours, and this takes place in huge washback tanks.

There are three Coffey stills that produce single grain whisky. A Coffey still is a tall column that can be continuously operated and produces a light, delicate spirit. One additional Coffey still produces neutral spirits for medical and other purposes. Water for production is taken from the nearby Loch Glass.   

Invergordon was founded in 1959 by Invergordon Distillers Ltd. It is located in the Highland town of Invergordon, which sits on the Cromarty Firth - Scotland's deepest sea loch. Production began in 1961. It is the furthest north of the six Scottish grain distilleries with the majority located in the Central Belt.

The company also built the Ben Wyvis single malt distillery on the same site. This operated between 1965 and 1976, before being dismantled in 1977. The old stills are currently in operation at the Glengyle distillery in Campbeltown.

The late-1970s and 1980s saw a series of ownership changes and issues. In 1993 the distillery was purchased by Whyte & Mackay, and they have remained as owners. Whyte & Mackay uses Invergordon single grain heavily within their range of blended Scotch whiskies and has been part of the larger Emperador Inc. group since 2014.

Distillery bottlings are extremely scarce and included a 10-year-old expression, launched in 1990. This is now highly collectable - it was pulled from the market just two years later following an unsuccessful attempt to appeal to female drinkers. Invergordon is therefore only available through independent bottlers with Hunter Laing (Old Malt Cask and Sovereign ranges), Signatory Vintage and That Boutique-y Whisky Co. regularly releasing.