Glenglassaugh Distillery

It was founded in 1875 by James Moir, completely rebuilt in 1960, and kept distilling until 1986, when it was mothballed. For more than twenty years it stood silent and half forgotten. In 2008 production started again.

It is still a small operation, and the distillery makes a point of that: while many distilleries have become highly automated, the spirit here is made by hand by a small, skilled team, from good Scottish barley and by traditional methods. The best casks are chosen to mature it slowly in warehouses by the shore, where the sea air is part of the character.

Visits are by appointment only, so book before going. Sandend itself, a tiny fishing village, has one of the loveliest beaches on this coast, and the walk along the cliffs to Portsoy is a fine one.