Trade
This is how you say the Scotch whisky distilleries you mispronounce.
Look at the shelves of a bar full of Scotch whisky and it seems like an endless list of unpronounceable, confusing, and tricky words. Easier to ask for another vodka rather than risk the ridicule, right? Wrong. We’re not having that.
Most are named after places. A fair few of them have the word ‘glen’ in them. You would think that would make them nice and easy to pronounce. Some are. Most aren’t. It’s a legacy of the beautiful language of Gaelic and that often tricks people into applying familiar English pronunciations.
But rather than moan or avoid saying these names, it’s better to learn. We’ll have you saying them so naturally that Scottish people shake your hand in approval. We will help you avoid the gaffes so you can say “Glen Geery” with confidence when you see the name “Glen Garioch”. No really, that’s how it’s pronounced. We’ll get to that.
Scotch whisky distilleries you mispronounce
It’s Allt-á-Bhainne distillery. Say it with us!
Abhainn Dearg: Pronounced “Avin – jerrig”
Abhainn Dearg Distillery is on Uig, on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, and it’s a small distillery founded in 2007. In Gaelic its name Abhainn Dearg translates to “red river” and to pronounce its name you say “avin – jerrig”.
Allt-á-Bhainne: Pronounced “Ollt-err-VANE”
Allt-á-Bhainne is a Scotch whisky distillery located in the Speyside region. The distillery was founded in 1975 and the name Allt-á-Bhainne is Gaelic and means “Burn of the Milk,” which refers to a nearby stream.
anCnoc: Pronounced “ah-Knock”
anCnoc is made in Knock, Banffshire at Knockdu (“knock-doo”) Distillery. This translated from the Gaelic ‘Cnoc Dubh’ which means ‘black hill’. The name anCnoc was chosen as the current owners, Inver House, deemed Knockdhu too similar to Knockando and relabelled it to avoid confusion. AnCnoc simply means ‘the hill’.
Aberlour: Pronounced: “AB-er-lour”
Forget your ab-er-LOO-ers or ab-er-lores. It’s “AB-er-lour”. Located in the village of the same name, Aberlour was founded in 1826 and takes its name from the Gaelic Aber “mouth of a river” and lour (a variant of “Lour Burn”), a nearby stream.
This name has thrown a few people before
Auchentoshan: Pronounced “Aw-khen-tosh-an”
Pronounced “Aw-khen-tosh-an”, Auchentoshan was founded in 1823. The name is Gaelic for “Corner of the Field,” reflecting its location near the outskirts of Glasgow.
Auchroisk: Pronounced “Awk-roysk”
One of the trickiest distillery names there is. The Auchroisk distillery was built in 1974 and, fun fact, it was the first to carry the prefix ‘Singleton’. But the name “Auchroisk” is actually Gaelic for Ford of the Red Stream, which refers to a nearby water source.
Aultmore: Pronounced “ALT-more”
In 1896 the Aultmore distillery was founded in Speyside, taking its name from the nearby Aultmore Burn, which supplies the distillery’s water. The word derives from the Gaelic for “Big Burn” or “Big Stream”.
Did you “ry-ack” when you should have “ree-akh’d”?
Benriach: Pronounced “Ben-REE-akh”
Benriach is pronounced “Ben-REE-akh”, with a slight “kh” sound at the end, not ben-RY-ack or ben-RICK. The distillery, founded in Speyside in 1898, gets its name from the Gaelic for mountain, Ben, while Riach means “grassy” or “grey.”
Bruichladdich: Pronounced “broo-ick-laddie”
Islay distillery Bruichladdich is located in the wild Rhinns and was founded in 1881. The name is derived from the Gaelic words ‘brudhach’ and ‘chalddich’ which together translate to ‘brae by the shore’. You can pronounce its name like “broo-ick-laddie”.
Bunnahabhain: Pronounced “Bu-na-ha-venn”
The name “Bunnahabhain” is Gaelic for “Mouth of the River,” (Bun na h-Abhainn) referencing its location near the mouth of the Margadale River on the Isle of Islay.’ You pronounce its name like “bu-na-ha-venn”.
Caol Ila: Pronounced “cull-eel-a”
Caol Ila Distillery was founded in 1846 on the northeastern shores of Islay. The name “Caol Ila” is Gaelic for “Sound of Islay,” referring to the narrow strait between Islay and Jura where the distillery is located.
Now here’s name that can twist a few tongues: Craigellachie
Craigellachie: Pronounced “Craig-ELL-a-key”
Craigellachie Distillery was founded in 1891. The name “Craigellachie” is Gaelic, meaning “Rocky Hill,” referring to the craggy hill near the village of Craigellachie in the Speyside region, where the distillery is located.
Clynelish: Pronounced “KLYNE-leesh”
Clynelish is derived from Gaelic, Clì meaning sloping or sheltered, and nèis meaning a meadow. The distillery is located near Brora in the Highlands of Scotland and was founded back in 1819.
Dailuaine: Pronounced “Dall-yewan”
Dailuaine Distillery is a single malt whisky maker founded in 1852. The Gaelic of the name, an dail uaine, is thought to mean ‘green valley’ which describes the distillery’s picturesque location in Speyside. To pronounce it just sound out “dall-yewan”.
Edradour: Pronounced: “Edra-dow-er”
Sometimes mispronounced as “Edra-door”, Edradour is derived from Gaelic, with Edra potentially meaning “between two waters” and dour meaning “stream” or “water.” The distillery is located in the village of Edradour near Pitlochry in the Highlands and was founded in 1825.
Fettercairn: Pronounced “fetter-KERN”
Fettercairn is derived from Gaelic, with Fothair meaning a slope or terraced land, and Cairn referring to a pile of stones or boundary marker. The distillery is located in the town of Fettercairn in the Highlands and has been since 1824, and it’s very tempting to call it fet-TER-cairn or fet-er-CAIRN. But don’t you go doing it.
Glendronach: Pronounced “glen-DRON-ack”
Often mispronounced as glen-DRO-nach or glen-dro-NAK, Glendronach (“glen-DRON-ack”) comes from the Gaelic for Glen, meaning valley and Dronach referring to brambles or thorn bushes. The distillery is located in the Highland region near Huntly and was founded in 1826.
Have you been saying this right? Be honest now.
Glenfarclas: Pronounced “Glen-fark-lass”
Glenfarclas Distillery, founded in 1836, means Valley of the Green Grass in Gaelic (glen meaning valley and farclas meaning green grass). The distillery name might not seem confusing at first, but often it’s mispronounced as “Glen-far-class” or “Glen-far-clas”. The more you know.
Glenfiddich: Pronounced “Glen-fid-ick”
Despite being a giant of single malt Scotch whisky, many people mistakenly pronounce it “Glen-fid-itch” with a “ch” sound at the end, but the correct pronunciation has a soft “ck” sound, like in “kick.” The name derives from the Gaelic Gleann Fhiodhaich meaning “valley of the deer”, reflected in Glenfiddich’s stag logo.
Glenmorangie: Pronounced “glen-moh-ran-jee”
The name Glenmorangie is thought to derive either from Gleann Mòr na Sìth (valley of tranquillity) or Gleann Mór-innse (valley of big meadows). It is pronounced “glen-moh-ran-jee”, which whisky maker Dr Bill Lumsden teaches people by getting them to recite the phrase: “the orange-y is more-angey at Glenmorangie”, using both the pronunciation of the word orange to tease people into the right direction while also giving them a clue what flavours to expect.
Glen Garioch: Pronounced “Glen Geery”
The East Highland distillery was founded in 1797, making it one of the oldest Scotch whisky distilleries still in operation. The name “Glen Garioch” throws people more than most, being pronounced “glen geery” in the Doric dialect of Aberdeen. It comes from the distillery’s location in the celebrated ‘Valley of the Garioch’, which was named “The Granary of Aberdeenshire” thanks to the quality of barley produced there.
Kilchoman can be tricky for a non-native speaker
Kilchoman: Pronounced: “kil-HO-man”
Founded in 2005, Kilchoman is a relative newbie of a distillery. The first Islay whisky distillery built in 120 years was named after the parish where the distillery is located on the west coast of Islay. The word Kil often refers to a church in Gaelic, and Choman likely refers to a local figure or saint. Thus, Kilchoman may mean “Church of Choman.”
Knockando: Pronounced “Nock-an-doe”
Knockando comes from the Gaelic Cnoc-an-dhu meaning “Little Black Hill.” The distillery was founded in the Speyside region of Scotland in 1898 and while most people probably get this one right, some might pronounce it as “Knock-an-doh” with emphasis on “can”. But the correct pronunciation is “Nock-an-doe.”
Laphroaig: Pronounced “La-froyg”
The name “Laphroaig” is Gaelic for ‘the beautiful hollow by the broad bay’. Although it has also been associated with the Norse “breid-vik” which means broad bay. You pronounce its name like “la-froyg”.
Ledaig: Pronounced “Led-chig”
Ledaig whisky was founded in 1798 as part of Tobermory Distillery, with Ledaig being the peated whisky produced there. The name Ledaig is Gaelic for “Safe Haven,” referencing the sheltered bay of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull.
Many have tried and failed to pronounce “Ledaig”.
Lagavulin: Pronounced “Lagga-voolin”
The Lagavulin Distillery can be found at Lagavulin Bay on the island of Islay. The distillery, which was founded in 1816, gets its name from the anglicisation of the Gaelic lag a’mhuilin which means ‘hollow by the mill’. To pronounce its name say “lagga-voolin”.
Tomatin: Pronounced “Toe-MAH-tin”
I said TOM-a-tin for years. Some of you may well still do. But, alas, we were wrong. Say it like you’re going to say “tomato”. But not “tomato”. That wasn’t very helpful, was it? Damn you, language! Toe-mah-toe. Toe-mah-tin. Got it? Good. Tomatin comes from Gaelic, Tom, meaning “that pillock who broke your heart” “hillock” or “small hill” and atin, referring to a juniper bush. The distillery is located in the Highlands near Inverness and was founded back in 1897.
Tomintoul: Pronounced “Tom-in-towel”
Tomintoul Distillery was founded in 1964. The name “Tomintoul” is derived from the nearby village of Tomintoul, which is the highest village in the Highlands of Scotland, and means “Hillock of the Barn” (Tom an t-Sabhail) in Gaelic. You pronounce it like “tom-in-towel”, like your friend Tom is wrapped up after a shower.
We’re about to see a lot more of Tormore
Tormore: Pronounced “Tor-more”
Founded in 1960, Tormore is a relatively modern distillery. It’s also distinctively beautiful, unlike most things built in that decade. The name is derived from Gaelic, with Tor meaning “hill” or “high ground,” and more meaning “big.” While this one might seem straightforward, some people might say “Tor-moor,” but it’s correctly pronounced “Tor-more.”
Strathisla: Pronounced “Strath-eye-la”
Strathisla is one of the oldest continuously operating distilleries in Scotland. Located in Speyside, it was founded in 1786. You know, a decade after the USA. It’s named after the river Isla, which runs near the distillery. Strath refers to a broad valley in Gaelic.
Bonus ball – Islay: Pronounced “EYE-lah”
Not a distillery, but a major part of Scotch whisky as one of its five recognised regions, Islay is mispronounced as is-lay or iz-lay. But it’s “EYE-lah”. The island in the Inner Hebrides is home to several famous Scotch whisky distilleries but the origin of the name “Islay” is uncertain. It is often linked to Old Norse or Gaelic, possibly meaning “island of the elder tree” or “island of the swift.”
