Traditional Producers of Single Malt Whisky

[JD31]

This is my first post here -- so, go easy, please. ''

Wine has been my hobby for 25 years and I just started enjoying single malts within the past few years. As is the case with wine, all else being equal, I am a big fan of 'traditional' and family-owned.

Which family/locally run producers making a 'natural / traditional' product are recommended by the board? My daughter is going to study in Scotland and I plan on making a few visits next year. I'm hoping this post might help me hone in on some things to try and places to visit.

FWIW, my relatively uninformed favorites are:

Kilchoman Machir Bay
Laphroaig 10 CS
Springbank 12 CS
Ardbeg Ten and Uigeadail
Talisker 18
Clynelish 14
Old Highland Park before all of the Viking stuff

Cheers,
JD

[Samson]

The majority of the single malt whiskies produced in Scotland today are owned by large companies, all are produced using traditional methods as there are strict rules to follow when producing Scotch whisky or it cannot be called Scotch whisky.

There are some family owned companies such as:

William Grant & Sons who own the Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Kininvie and Ailsa Bay distilleries. Ian Macleod Distiller's who own Glengoyne and Tamdhu

I haven't been myself but going by your list of favourite whiskies I would think you would enjoy a visit to the isle of Islay

[Graeme H]

Kilchoman is very much a traditional and family owned and run distillery, a relatively new distillery, established in 2005. They grow and malt a percentage of their own barley at the farm distillery, they distil and bottle the whisky there also. Their whisky is a classic peaty Islay malt style.

[TheMaster]

Glenfarclas are a family owned distillery and still produce in the traditional way. Springbank, which also produce in the traditional way and produce Springbank, Longrow (heavily peated Springbank) and Hazelwood (triple distilled). The owner also own the Glengyle distillery which produce the Kilkerran whisky.

Arran and Edradour are also family owned.

In terms of what you consider to be more "craft" distilleries, you have the likes of Benromach (smallest distillery in Speyside).

[GregBurnett]

I'd highly recommend visiting The Balvenie distillery.

It has a very good visitor centre, great staff, and not to mention great whisky aswell! It is also one of the very few distilleries where you can see the whole traditional process from start to finish, including the maltings and the cooperage. It is slightly more expensive however it is very exclusive and you have to book weeks, if not months in advance. Hope this helps your decision.

[MattS]

The Benromach youtube visit by whisky.com is an interesting insight to traditional elements of production

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCc10ksSVNU

Owned by Gordon & MacPhail

https://www.gordonandmacphail.com/about-us/our-story/