Teaninich distillery information
Founded by Captain Hugh Munro in 1817, the distillery sits approximately 30 kilometers north of Inverness in the Highland whisky region. The Teaninich name is derived from the Gaelic expression “Taigh an Aonaich”, which translates into “The house on the hill”. In 1887, Teaninich became the first whisky plant north of Inverness to have electricity and a telephone. The facility changed ownership multiple times through the 1800s and early 1900s, eventually becoming part of Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd in 1933.
A distinctive feature of Teaninich is its Meura Filter press, used in place of a traditional mash tun. Rather than steeping the grist in a mash tun, the mash is squeezed between cloth plates, after which the wort is collected, the draff removed, and the process repeated. Teaninich shares this approach with fellow mash-filter user InchDairnie in Fife, one of very few Scottish malt distilleries built around this equipment.
In April 2013, Diageo announced a major expansion at Teaninich as part of a wider £1 billion, five-year investment in Scotch whisky production. What was ultimately built was a £26 million second stillhouse, adding six pairs of stills and doubling the distillery’s capacity to around 10 million litres of pure alcohol a year. The project also added an on-site bio-energy plant, converting distilling co-products into renewable energy for the site.
Most of the whisky produced at Teaninich goes into blends, particularly Johnnie Walker Red Label. Limited bottlings include the Flora & Fauna 10 Year Old and occasional Rare Malts and Special Releases editions.
Teaninich whiskies
- Flora & Fauna, 10 Year Old – the standard bottling, first released in 1992.
- Rare Malts Selection, 23 Year Old – released 1995 and again 1996, part of Diageo’s now-discontinued Rare Malts series.
- Rare Malts Selection, 27 Year Old – released 1999, same discontinued series.
- Manager’s Choice, 13 Year Old – released 2009, a distillery-exclusive single cask bottling from a now-discontinued Diageo series.
- Special Releases 2017, 17 Year Old – 1999 vintage, part of Diageo’s annual Special Releases collection.
- Special Releases 2025, 8 Year Old – A single grain Rye Whisky, bottled at 60.3% ABV, matured in ex-bourbon casks.
Distillery info:
Detail |
Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Teaninich |
| Region | Highland |
| Country | Scotland |
| Logo |  |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1817 |
| Water source | Dairywell Spring |
| Malting floor | No |
| Owned by | Diageo |
| Address | Teaninich Distillery Riverside Dr Alness, Highland IV17 0XD United Kingdom |
| Visitor centre | No |
| Map |
Distillery Setup:
Component |
Capacity |
Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Mash tun | 12 tonnes | 1 (Meura mash filter press, not a mash tun) |
| Washback | 56,000 litres | 20 (18 Oregon pine, 2 Stainless steel) |
| Wash still | 18,000 litres | 6 |
| Spirit Still | 15,500 litres | 6 |
| Expected yearly output in LPA (Litres of pure alcohol) | 10,000,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Teaninich comes from the Gaelic “Taigh an Aonaich”, meaning “The house on the hill”. The distillery was founded in 1817 by Captain Hugh Munro, about 30 kilometres north of Inverness in the Highland whisky region.
Yes. In 1887, Teaninich became the first whisky plant north of Inverness to have both electricity and a telephone.
The distillery changed ownership multiple times through the 1800s and early 1900s before eventually becoming part of Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd in 1933.
Teaninich uses a Meura Filter press in place of a traditional mash tun. Rather than steeping the grist in a mash tun, the mash is squeezed between cloth plates, with the wort collected and the draff removed before the process repeats. Teaninich shares this approach with fellow mash-filter user InchDairnie in Fife, making them two of very few Scottish malt distilleries built around this equipment.
In April 2013, Diageo announced a major expansion at Teaninich as part of a wider 1 billion pound, five-year investment in Scotch whisky production. The result was a 26 million pound second stillhouse, adding six pairs of stills and doubling the distillery’s capacity to around 10 million litres of pure alcohol a year. The project also added an on-site bio-energy plant, converting distilling co-products into renewable energy for the site.
Most of the whisky produced at Teaninich goes into blends, particularly Johnnie Walker Red Label. Limited official bottlings include the Flora & Fauna 10 Year Old, first released in 1992, along with occasional Rare Malts and Special Releases editions, including a Special Releases 2025 expression that was an 8 Year Old single grain Rye Whisky bottled at 60.3% ABV.
No, Teaninich does not have a visitor centre.