Tobermory Whisky Distillery is the only distillery on the picturesque Hebridean Isle of Mull. This is an Island region malt whisky.

Located on the seafront at the south western end of the fishing town of Tobermory.

Over its long history the distillery has also known as Ledaig.

The distillery produces two different styles of single malts.

The first one is a gently peated malt called Tobermory.

The second is an extremely smokey peaty malt called Ledaig.

Tobermory (TOBER-more-ay) is derived from the Gaelic “Tobar Mhoire”, which means “Well of Mary” and relates to the well and chapel of St Mary. There was a small Christian settlement in Tobermory from early times.

The original name for the distillery, Ledaig (pronounce Led-chig) is also Gaelic and means “Safe Haven”.

Tobermory Distillery is one of the oldest operational Malt Scotch Whisky distilleries and celebrated its 200th Anniversary in 1998

In 1797 a local merchant, John Sinclair, applied to build a distillery, this was initially refused. However permission was granted the following year for Sinclair to proceed and The Ledaig Distillery as it was known in the early years was constructed. becoming fully licensed in 1823.  

The distillery was closed between 1837 and 1878.

In 1890 it was sold to John Hopkins & Co. who themselves where acquired by the Distillers Company Ltd in 1916.

The distillery was shut down again in 1928 and didn’t reopen until 1972.  With the buildings and equipment refurbished, this time as the Ledaig Distillery (Tobermory) Ltd.

However in 1975 the receivers where called in and the distillery was mothballed.

During 1978 the distillery was purchased by Kirkleavington Property Co. (Yorkshire).  Renaming as Tobermory Distillers Ltd. However after 3 years production stops. Some of the buildings are converted to flats and others rented out to a local dairy for cheese storage

In 1990 the distillery resumes production.

In 1993 Burn Stewart, who’s other distilleries at the time included Bunnahabhain and Deanston, acquired the distillery. Paying £600,000 plus £200,000 for stock.

CL Financial purchase Burn Stewart in 2002.

They sell the firm onto the Distel Group Ltd in 2013.

Founded in 1797 by John Sinclair

Location; Island region on the Isle of Mull, Tobermory.

Water Source; Local private loch.

Tobermory / Ledaig Whisky Distillery Equipment;

5 ton Copper domed cast iron mash tun.

4 Oregon pine washbacks, Fermentation time 50 to 90 hours.

4 pot stills with steeply inclined S-shaped lyne arms.

Matured in a combination of American oak bourbon and European sherry casks.

Over the years with all the name changes  between Tobermory/Ledaig the brand can look confusing.

Under Burn Stewart  the branding has become a lot clearer.

The first one is a gently peated malt called Tobermory.

The second is an smokey phenolic peaty malt called Ledaig.

Earlier bottles of both Tobermory and Ledaig can be found in both limited edition  and discontinued malt whisky sections.