Meikle Tòir is a peated Speyside whisky, but Where Does the Name Com From?

Friday, 19 December 2025 at 15:03

Monday has arrived, and that means a fresh chance to put the grey matter to work with the story behind a whisky name. Within The GlenAllachie’s range, Meikle Tòir holds a special place as a peated Speyside whisky. But what’s really behind that name?

In Scotland’s Speyside, The GlenAllachie crafts one of the country’s most beloved whiskies. Not long ago, this smooth Speyside dram gained a peated counterpart flowing from the very same stills: Meikle Tòir (mee-kuhl-tor).

A quest, but for what?

Billy Walker didn’t pick the name by accident. In Gaelic, it means 'great enterprise' or 'great quest.' The name doesn’t reveal what the quest is for, but the distillery certainly does.

According to the description on their website, the whisky points to a clear ambition: 'to carefully craft and mature in cask an unparalleled peated single malt at our Speyside home, The GlenAllachie Distillery.'

It’s their way of letting fans of The GlenAllachie enjoy the softer side of Speyside, with a wisp of smoke.

Not your typical peated whisky

Meikle Tòir isn’t an intensely smoky whisky, as you might expect. They deliberately use peat from St. Fergus in Aberdeenshire. This inland peat avoids the heavy barbecue smoke and medicinal notes. Instead, the whisky’s smoke profile is gentle and floral.

Combine that with The GlenAllachie’s long fermentation of 160 hours, and you get a spirit that’s already fruity and rich in esters before it even hits the cask.

Meikle Tòir now comes in several expressions. It all began with the 5-year-old The Original, showcasing notes of sweet spices, ginger, wood, and fruit.

Each edition features a different cask regime, spotlighting either the fruit-forward side or the whisky’s spicy, smoky character.

For more information on Meikle Tòir, visit the brand’s website.

FAQ

What does Meikle Tòir mean?
The Great Quest or the Great Enterprise.
Where does Meikle Tòir whisky come from?
It’s made at The GlenAllachie Distillery.
Where is The GlenAllachie Distillery located?
In Scotland’s Speyside, near Aberlour.