The cascading falls of the Tobermory River set the scene as you descend the Eas Brae to arrive at Tobermory’s harbourfront and Main Street, where the centuries-old whisky distillery awaits. 

Where to find the Tobermory Distillery

Conveniently located with access from the Ledaig carpark, the Tobermory Distillery first began distilling whiskies in 1798, with a legacy of over 200 years of whisky making on the island. The distillery continues to thrive to this day, with a fine range of whiskies to sample that combine its historic roots with new, exciting takes on the spirit too.

Tours and tastings at the Tobermory Distillery

The Tobermory Distillery offers excellent tours and tastings, which you can book in advance via their website, or by calling into the distillery’s visitor centre, and typically take around an hour. This makes a great activity in any season, but especially so on a dreicher Mull day, where the steam curls dramatically above the river as it flows into the bay. 

You can also book just a tasting, which typically lasts 45 minutes, or for true connoisseurs, the warehouse whisky tasting, where you’ll sample spirit drawn straight from the cask.

Whichever you choose, a warm Highland welcome awaits as you step into the visitor centre, which is atmospherically lit and decorated to immediately get you into the spirit. 

From here, an expert guide will begin the distillery tour, taking you on a journey through the entire whisky making production process. As you navigate the site, cocooned between hill and sea, you’ll get to see the copper stills and mash tuns in action, while the guide explains each step of the production process.

After exploring the production areas, you’ll then enter the altogether different feeling cask room. It is in here that barrels of whisky wait to slowly mature. Your guide will explain the different types of barrels used and how this can impart a unique flavour to the whisky within. 

Finally – and the highlight for many! – the tour culminates in the cosy tasting room, where an expert guide will lead you through sampling both a Tobermory dram and a Ledaig dram, the Tobermory Distillery’s two signature whiskies. The Tobermory being lighter, while the Ledaig has a fantastically smokey flavour, being a peated whisky. 

The designated driver need not miss out, as your drams can be bottled to take away with you and enjoy from the comfort of your cottage by the fire.

Flavours of Mull

The distillery also houses a shop, so you can purchase whiskies direct from the distillery to take home and enjoy the flavours of Mull from further afield. There’s also the opportunity to purchase a distillery exclusive – these are small batch whiskies, ideal for whisky connoisseurs – as well as limited edition single malts and, a more recent addition to the distillery, Tobermory Gin too.

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.