Visiting Glenkinchie: The Edinburgh Malt

Just under half an hour south-east of Edinburgh, nestled in the gentle fields of East Lothian, lies one of Scotland's last Lowland distilleries: Glenkinchie. While most whisky trips head for the Highlands or Speyside, the short detour into the Lowlands is especially worthwhile here, not least because Glenkinchie is today the official Lowland home of Johnnie Walker. The striking red-brick building with its golden statue greets you right at the entrance.

The Edinburgh Malt

Glenkinchie was founded in 1825 by brothers John and George Rate, originally under the name "Milton Distillery". It was only in 1837 that the distillery took on its current name, derived from the glen of the Kinchie Burn that flows through the grounds. Thanks to its proximity to the Scottish capital, Glenkinchie still carries the nickname "The Edinburgh Malt".

Glenkinchie's style is typical of the Lowlands: light, floral and grassy, with a fine sweetness and a dry finish. Where Highland and Islay malts often appear robust or smoky, Glenkinchie is the elegant, approachable representative of the south, an ideal introduction to the world of single malt and a classic aperitif whisky.

One of the last Lowland distilleries

The Lowlands were once densely populated with distilleries, but over the decades most have closed. Glenkinchie is one of the few survivors and thus an important witness to the Lowland tradition. Since 1988, the distillery has represented the Lowlands in Diageo's famous "Classic Malts of Scotland" range, that selection which assigns a representative single malt to each Scottish whisky region. Besides Glenkinchie, we also visited the other three Classic Malts distilleries: Dalwhinnie (Highlands), Oban (west coast) and Talisker (Skye).

This role as the flagship of an entire region shows: the distillery is carefully maintained and presented, from the historic stonework to the modernised visitor centre. A particular highlight for whisky nerds is the large model of a distillery from the early 20th century, which shows the workings of a distillery in fine detail.

Inside the production area, a genuine superlative awaits: Glenkinchie works with two sprawling, bulbous copper stills, and the wash still is considered the largest of its kind in all of Scotland. These enormous, widely curved stills give the spirit plenty of contact with the copper, and thus the particularly light, clean character of Glenkinchie.

Scotland's largest wash still

It is precisely this size of the stills that is one reason why Glenkinchie turns out so clear and elegant. The more copper contact, the finer and lighter the spirit becomes, a fine example of how the shape of the stills shapes the character of a whisky long before the first cask is filled.

The Lowland home of Johnnie Walker

Glenkinchie today is far more than a single malt distillery: it is one of the four "Four Corners" houses of Johnnie Walker. Together with Caol Ila (Islay), Clynelish (Highlands) and Cardhu (Speyside), Glenkinchie provides the Lowland element for the world's best-selling blended Scotch. Fittingly, the wall in the tasting room bears the lettering "The Lowland Home of Johnnie Walker".

As part of this repositioning, the visitor centre was extensively modernised. The bright, stylish tasting room with its illuminated display shelves and barley decor invites you to linger. Here you don't just taste Glenkinchie itself but also experience how its light Lowland character contributes to the greater whole of a Johnnie Walker.

Visitor tips

Thanks to its proximity to Edinburgh, Glenkinchie is probably the most easily accessible distillery for anyone visiting the capital, a perfect day trip. In the city itself, a visit to the Scotch Whisky Experience at the top of the Royal Mile is well worth it too. The visitor centre offers a range of tours, from the classic guided walk to guided tastings; booking ahead is advisable, especially in high season. If you'd like to get to know the gentle Lowland style beforehand, we recommend the house classic: Glenkinchie 12 Years.

Slàinte mhath from the Lowlands!

Want more from this distillery? You can find all the Glenkinchie whiskies we have reviewed gathered in our overview of all Glenkinchie bottlings.