Adelphi Distillery, located on the remote Ardnamurchan peninsula in the westernmost part of the British mainland, has made sustainability a key focus in its operations. The distillery generates all the power it needs through a hydro-electric generator in the river that also provides cooling water, while a biomass boiler powered by locally sourced wood chips supplies all hot water. The byproducts of the distillation process, such as draff, are used to feed local herds, and pot ale is utilized as fertilizer for the surrounding fields.
From the outset, the distillery has produced two distinct styles of whisky: peated and unpeated. Both styles use barley grown on the estate of one of the distillery’s owners. The first legal distilling operation on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, Adelphi Distillery began production in 2014, although it was not the first distillery to carry the Adelphi name.
The original Adelphi distillery was established in 1826 in the Gorbals district of Glasgow. It was later taken over by Archibald Walker in 1880, making Adelphi the only distillery in Scotland, Ireland, and England to produce both malt and grain whisky. By 1887, the distillery was producing over 500,000 gallons of whisky annually. However, it was bought by DCL (Distillers Company Limited) in 1903, and its operations ceased in 1907. Grain whisky production continued until 1932, and the site is now home to Glasgow’s Central Mosque.
In 1993, Archibald Walker’s great-grandson, Jamie, resurrected the Adelphi name as an independent bottler, and in 2004, the current owners took over the business, establishing the Ardnamurchan distillery as part of their vision.
