5 Independent Bottlers Who Also Run Their Own Whisky Distilleries

In the wondrous world of whisky, beyond the famous brands, there are countless independent bottlers who know how to reach lovers of the nectar of the gods. Some of these companies hedge their bets, both bottling purchased casks and running their own distillery. Today, we’re taking a closer look at five names that do exactly that.

The first name we’re exploring is Cadenhead’s, Scotland’s oldest independent bottler. Since 1842, they’ve been buying casks from various distilleries and bottling the whisky under their own label. In 1972, the company was acquired by J&A Mitchell & Co., owners of the Springbank distillery in Campbeltown.

The bottling operation moved from Aberdeen to Campbeltown, and ever since the Mitchell family has been delighting whisky lovers with their own Springbank, Longrow, and Hazelburn whiskies, as well as a wealth of bottles bearing the Cadenhead’s label.

The second independent bottler that also owns a distillery is Gordon & MacPhail. Founded in 1895, the company has become a respected name in the whisky world over the decades. In 1993, Gordon & MacPhail decided to acquire the Benromach distillery from United Distillers.

After an extensive refurbishment, Prince Charles officially opened the new Benromach distillery.

The next entry on the list is another familiar name: Adelphi. Long ago, there was an Adelphi distillery in Scotland. The Adelphi name was revived in 1993 by Jamie Walker: as an independent bottler. After two decades of acclaim for its various series, and years of planning and preparation, the time came to open a distillery of their own.

On July 25, 2014, the moment arrived: the Ardnamurchan distillery opened its doors on the namesake peninsula on Scotland’s west coast. The whiskies flowing from Ardnamurchan’s stills are both peated and unpeated, and they have made a strong impression right from the start. With this, Adelphi has proven it can not only bottle great whiskies, but craft outstanding whisky of its own.

The fourth independent bottler with its own distillery is Wemyss Malts. This family-run company has been bottling whisky since 2005. In 2014, Isabella Wemyss and her team launched the Kingsbarns distillery in the Kingdom of Fife. Kingsbarns produces a light and fruity whisky that proudly honors the classic Lowlands style.

The final independent bottler to establish its own distillery is Hunter Laing & Co. Founded in 2013 by Stewart Laing and his sons Andrew and Scott, they opened a new whisky distillery on Islay in 2019. Ardnahoe is the island’s ninth distillery, nestled between Bunnahabhain and Caol Ila.

The family boasts a rich whisky heritage and brought deep expertise to ensure Ardnahoe’s success. Funded in part by Hunter Laing’s bottlings, this ambitious project became a reality. Hunter Laing may not be the most famous independent bottler, but Ardnahoe’s star is already rising fast.

You can find more of our top lists in this overview.