Exploring Isle of Mull Whisky & Gin Distilleries

As the air turns crisper, smoke curls from the chimney tops and russet leaves crunch beneath our feet, autumn makes its presence known on Mull. It’s a beautiful season indoors and out, with the red deer rut a wildlife highlight.

But, for the inevitable dreicher days, it’s great to have something to look forward to indoors, too. When better to explore the two Isle of Mull distilleries, one with a history of over 200 years, the other only a few years old!

Tobermory Distillery

Found on the edge of the harbourfront, conveniently just beside the Ledaig carpark, Tobermory Distillery is a must-visit during your stay. The distillery first opened in 1798 and made its name producing excellent single-malt whisky.

If you enjoy the smoky flavours of a peated whisky, then the Ledaig will win your vote, or for a lighter flavour, the Tobermory is the tipple to try. More recently, the distillery added a great range of small-batch gins to their offering, too.

Visit the Tobermory Distillery for a tour and tasting to see the whisky in production, from the huge copper stills to the casks the whisky matures in. You’ll enjoy an expert-led tour through the entire production process and see spirits being made to this day here in the heart of Tobermory.

After an informative introduction to the whisky making process and history of whisky production at the Tobermory Distillery, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the distillery, taking in the mash tuns, the copper stills, the maturing whiskies cocooned in their casks, and understand more about the processes behind Tobermory Distillery’s unique whiskies and their flavours.

For those who choose it, the tour concludes in the tasting room, which comes highly recommended! Here, you’ll sample drams from some of the Tobermory distillery favourites. Afterwards, in the gift shop, you can pick up a branded whisky glass to take home from your travels and perhaps even a bottle or two! The team will be able to talk you through which bottles and ages of whisky will be the best choice for you.

There’s also the option to book a gin tasting, too!

Isle of Mull Spirit

If you’ve been for lunch at the Glass Barn or perhaps enjoyed some hearty Isle of Mull cheese, then you’ve already discovered a slice of the gastronomic delight awaiting at Sgiobruadh Farm, just outside Tobermory.

In recent years, they have added Isle of Mull Spirit to their diverse offering at the farm, producing unique spirits from whey leftover as a byproduct of their cheesemaking process, so nothing goes to waste.

The result is a collection of creative spirits, from the Coo J’n gin to the Cheesemaker’s Strength vodka. Book a farm tour to see the full farm in motion, wandering the cellars among ageing cheese rounds, exploring the garden bursting with botanicals, watching a cheesemaking demonstration and tasting the cheese and spirits that reward their efforts.

With farm animals to meet too, this one’s a great choice for every generation.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to Isle of Mull distilleries. Discover more ideas for things to do when you visit the island with our local’s guide, or try our themed island itineraries.