Glenkinchie distillery

Glenkinchie is a single malt whisky distillery in Pencaitland, East Lothian, roughly twelve miles southeast of Edinburgh. The site sits on flat farmland at the edge of a small village, surrounded by fields that run right up to the warehouses.

The Rate brothers established the site in 1825 on a farm that had previously made illegal spirits. After a fire and a long period of closure, operations resumed at the start of the twentieth century.

The name comes from the nearby Kinchie burn that runs through the glen and once supplied water for production. Visitors today see mostly red brick buildings and warehouses surrounded by barley fields and peat.

Tours through the site last roughly an hour and involve some walking on uneven ground between buildings. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear since pathways can be slippery, especially after rain.

The site hosts a museum with a nineteenth-century model that shows all stages of whisky making in miniature. The model was originally built for an exhibition in London and later moved here.

Location: East Lothian

Location: Pencaitland

Inception: 1825

GPS coordinates: 55.89120,-2.89106

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28