Scroll to begin
UNSUNG HEROES
This month we’re celebrating the unsung heroes of Scoch whisky distilling and embracing what matters most: the liquid in the bottle.
FORGET BRANDS!
Whether we're willing to admit it or not, much of our Scotch whisky appreciation is still infuenced by brands. Iconic names, fancy packaging, and provenance are just a few of many factors that distilleries lean on to sell their whisky. Some, as you might expect, are better at it than others. But here's the problem. There are now more than 150 working distilleries in Scotland today. Many of these distilleries remain unknown to the average whisky drinker in the US. Why do they operate in the shadows, you ask? Well, many of them are producing spirit mainly for the big blends. Others simply don't have the budget to export internationally. But there's one thing we know for sure: there are far too many unknown distilleries worthy of our attention. It's time we shed some light on Scotland's unsung heroes and reprioritize what matters most: the liquid in the glass.
TO THE RESCUE!
• As of 2026, Scotland is home to 156 unique whisky distilleries
• While the exact number is known, the majority of these distilleries are producing whisky for blending purposes, many of them exclusively.
• Almost 9 out of every 10 bottles of Scotch consumed around the world is a blend (yikes).
• A single bottle of blended Scotch may contain whisky from up to 60 different distilleries, their origins completely unknown.
WHO ARE THE HEROES?
This month's outturn features a selection of whiskies produced at ten (10) Scottish distilleries worthy of attention. Here are just a few of the many we're exploring this month.
DAILUAINE
Distillery 41 deliberately limits copper interaction during production and runs its stills relatively quickly, helping heavier compounds survive into the new make. That gives their whisky a muscular, meaty character with plenty of body.
TEANINICH
Instead of a traditional mash tun, Distillery 59 uses a mash filter that squeezes exceptionally clear wort from finely milled barley. That clear wort, combined with long fermentation, helps create the distillery's signature fresh, grassy and fruity spirit.
BALMENACH
Distillery 48 still uses traditional worm-tub condensers, which provide less copper contact and help preserve heavier compounds in the spirit. The result is an unusually weighty, rich and sometimes meaty style of Speyside whisky that stands apart from the region’s more delicate malts.
BEN NEVIS
Distillery 78 produces a distinctly full-bodied style of whisky, using relatively short 48-hour fermentations followed by a narrow spirit cut during distillation. The result is the oily, robust Highland spirit.
FETTERCAIRN
Distillery 94 has a unique copper cooling ring around its stills that sends cold mountain water cascading down the outside during distillation. Cooling the copper increases reflux and helps create the distillery’s notably light and clean spirit.
UNSUNG HEROES
Explore ten brand new whiskies from Scotland's unsung heroes.
Shop the Outturn
UNSUNG HEROES