GlenWyvis Distillery is a unique and innovative whisky production facility located in Dingwall, Scotland. What sets GlenWyvis apart from traditional distilleries is its community-driven and sustainable approach to making spirits, coupled with its use of modern technology and traditional techniques. Established in 2015, GlenWyvis aims to produce high-quality spirits while also contributing positively to the local community and environment.
GlenWyvis has nearby neighbours of Glen Ord, Dalmore and Invergordon, but it is the first distillery in the Dingwall area for quite sometime.
In 1879 a Dingwall ironmonger, agricultural merchant and town Baillie, D.G. Ross, built the Ben Wyvis Distillery. It took 90 men nine months to blast away the Dingwall hillside to make way for the site.
Twenty years late, the Glenskiach Distillery opens in Evanton, a few miles north of
Dingwall. The distillery was designed by famous distillery architect of the Victorian age, Charles Doig.
Both distilleries closed during the downturn of the 1920's. However in 1965 the grain distillery of Invergordon began making a single malt called Ben Wyvis alongside its normal grain operation. This continued for a couple of decades until Invergordon eventually ceased malt production.
Jump forwrd to 2015 and the story of whisky in Dingwall is beginning a new chapter.
One of the standout features of GlenWyvis distillery is its community ownership model. It is owned by over 3,000 members who have invested in the distillery and share a collective interest in its success. This ownership structure not only fosters a sense of community engagement but also provides a unique funding mechanism for the distillery's operations and expansion. Glenwyvis claim to be the first crowdfunded distillery in the world.
Furthermore, GlenWyvis places a strong emphasis on sustainability. The distillery boasts a state-of-the-art renewable energy system, including solar panels and a biomass boiler. These technologies significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the production process, making GlenWyvis one of the more environmentally conscious distilleries in the region.
Furthermore, GlenWyvis places a strong emphasis on sustainability. The distillery boasts a state-of-the-art renewable energy system, including solar panels and a biomass boiler. These technologies significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the production process, making GlenWyvis one of the more environmentally conscious distilleries in the region.
Glenwyvis is produced using locally grown, locally malted barley and crystal clear water from the onsite borehole. Unhurried fermentation and warm distillate temperatures produce a fragrant, fruity, malty spirit with a long and distinctively spicy finish.
GlenWyvis have to date released three batches of single malt whisky. The first (01/18) was distilled in 2018 and aged for three years in bourbon and moscatel casks; the second (02/18) was also distilled in 2018 and aged for three to four years in bourbon casks and sherry casks. The latest batch, 01/19 - the one we are featuring in September '23 - has been matured in bourbon, marsala, red wine and moscatel casks, bringing about florality and fruitiness in the spirit.
