The Secret Meaning Behind Scotch Whisky Distillery Names

Do you know why there are so many distilleries that start with Glen? Why there are more Ards, or Bens?

With it being a golden age for Scotch, yes, it is a little wobbly in parts right now, but the landscape is more crowded and delicious than ever. But where do the names come from? What’s the origin story, the naming convention? Let’s find out.

Watch the full video here for some terrible pronounication

Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Glenmorangie. Why So many Glens?

We will start with the most commonly searched name origins. All due to how, in Scottish Gaelic, Glen translates to valley. So buckle in, there are a lot.

There are plenty of Glens across the Highlands and Speyside, and many of them take their names from the landscape, rivers and surrounding communities.

Glen Garioch translates to the Valley of the Rough Ground, while Glendronach is the Valley of the Brambles.

Glenglassaugh means Valley of the Green Grass, and Glengoyne is the Valley of the Wild Geese. That is also why they have the logo of the geese that looks like it has gone through a bread slicer.

Then you have Glenmorangie, where people debate the origins. The name of Glen of Tranquillity is the one pushed in the marketing, but it could just be Valley of the Big Meadow.

Moving over to Speyside, we have Glen Elgin, named after Elgin, Glen Keith, named after the town of Keith, and Glen Grant, named after the founding brothers James and John Grant.

Glenfiddich is probably one of the most questioned name origins, and its name is closely associated with the stag on its logo. Then there is The Glenlivet, meaning Valley of the River Livet, and Glenfarclas, meaning Valley of the Green Grassland.

We also have Glenkinchie in the Lowlands, named after a medieval family who owned the land, and Glen Scotia in Campbeltown, meaning the Valley of Scots. It is in Scotland, after all, and Campbeltown was once the Scotch whisky capital.

The final Glen is Glengyle Distillery, mostly known as Kilkerran. Glengyle means Valley of the Gyle, while Kilkerran takes its name from the Cell of St Kerran. Hence the awesome logo.

The Scotch Ard’s and Ben’s

Ardmore means Great Height, while Ardnamurchan translates to Point of the Great Seas. That is a badass salty name.

Ardbeg, the well loved Islay titan, means Little Height or Small Headland, translated from Àirde Beaga. Then there is Ardnahoe, the newer Islay distillery, meaning Height of the Hollow.

The Bens are another group with names rooted in the landscape. Ben Nevis is named after the UK’s highest mountain next to it, while BenRiach means the Speckled Mountain, named after the nearby hills.

Benrinnes takes its name from the mountain, and Benromach translates as the Shaggy Mountain. If I didn’t need another reason to love this brand more, there it is.

Of course, not every distillery follows the same naming convention. Some take their names from rivers, farms, towns, castles or other landmarks.

Aberfeldy translates to Mouth of the Peledie Stream, while Aberlour means Mouth of the Lour Burn, the Loud Stream. Down in the Lowlands, Aberargie means Mouth of the Argie, referring to the stream on the family farm.

Ailsa Bay is named after Ailsa Craig, the volcanic island visible from the distillery. Annandale takes its name from the valley of the River Annan, and Auchentoshan translates to The Corner of the Field.

Then there are some brilliant names that make perfect sense once you know the story behind them. Allt A Bhainne means Burn of Milk, while Auchroisk translates to Ford of the Red Stream. AnCnoc means The Hill in Gaelic, referring to the nearby Black Hill, Cnoc Dubh.

Dalmore translates from the Gaelic Dail Mòr as The Big Meadow. Dalwhinnie means The Meeting Place, where Highland cattle drovers once met up. Nice, right?

Over in Speyside, Dailuaine means Green Meadow, Tamdhu means Little Dark Hill, and Tamnavulin translates to Mill on the Hill.

Some names are more straightforward. Dufftown is named after James Duff, who founded the town, while Tomatin means Hill of the Juniper and Tomintoul means Hill of the Barn.

Whisky Distillery Names shaped by water, islands and history

As you work through the different whisky regions, you start to notice just how much the landscape has influenced distillery names.

Bunnahabhain translates to Mouth of the River, while Caol Ila means Sound of Islay, referring to the narrow sea between Islay and Jura.

Laphroaig translates in Gaelic to The Beautiful Hollow by the Broad Bay, and not a French toad like creature. Lagavulin means The Hollow Where the Mill Is, referencing the site’s history.

Bruichladdich means Brae by the Shore, sitting on the edge of Loch Indaal, while Kilchoman takes its name from the St Comman church parish near the farm.

Over on Skye, Talisker is named after Talisker House, a settlement on the Minginish peninsula. Torabhaig means Hill of the Small Bay.

And then you have Springbank, for many the king of Campbeltown. Founded in 1828 on the site of an illicit still operated by Archibald Mitchell, the name relates directly to the natural water spring near a sloping bank of land in Campbeltown. No fuss, no fluff, just makes sense.

The next time you pick up a bottle, take a moment to look at the name. There might be a river, a mountain, a village or a story behind it.

And if you want to hear me stumble through the pronunciations and explore even more distillery names, watch the full video here.