Scotch Whisky Pronunciations / Phonetic Spellings

This post is dedicated to anyone who has ever rocked up to a whisky bar in search of a dram and in fear of getting the pronunciation wrong opted to go for a shot of Grouse. Well, never again, now you can order your whisky in confidence...

I was recently asked to clarify some Scotch Whisky pronunciations on Twitter and it got me thinking about the vast number of distilleries in Scotland whose names can be a challenge even to those that reside in this beautiful country of ours.

Having trawled through the internet I was surprised to find no one resource that detailed phonetic spellings of each distillery/whisky. There were various sites that had the odd bit of info but nothing extensive covering each and every distillery so I decided to take it upon myself to put something together. I've listed the distilleries dependent on the specific region they're found; Speyside, Lowland, Island, Islay, Highland and Campbeltown.

Please note that the pronunciation of ch (phonetically written ck) in some of the words below is pronounced how we Scots say Loch. I have marked these with an *. There's a good example here although sound is required.

I compiled this to the best of my knowledge and in some cases contacted the distilleries direct or referred to pronunciations from renowned whisky experts in Youtube videos for clarification. Should anyone wish to correct a phonetic spelling or query anything please do so in the comments below. If there are any distilleries missing or one that you'd like to see added please let me know.

Speyside (Spay-side)

Aberlour
Ah-burl-ow-er

Allt a'Bhainne
Olt a-vain

anCnoc / formerly Knockdhu
ah-nock / Nock-doo

Aultmore
Olt-mower

Balmenach
Bal-may-nack*

BenRiach
Ben-ree-ack*

Benrinnes
Ben-rin-ess

Benromach
Ben-ro-mack*

Cardhu
Car-doo

Cragganmore
Crag-an-mower

Craigellachie
Craig-ell-ack-ee*

Dailuaine
Dall-yoo-an

Dalwhinnie
Dal-whinnay

Drumguish
Drum-oo-ish

Dufftown
Duff-t-ow-n

Glenallachie
Glen-alla-key*

Glenburgie
Glen-bur-gee

Glendronach
Glen-dro-nack*

Glendullan
Glen-dull-an

Glen Elgin
Glen Elg-in

Glenfarclas
Glen-fark-lass

Glenfiddich
Glen-fidd-ick*

Glenglassaugh
Glen-glass-ock*

Glen Grant
Glen Grr-ant

Glen Keith
Glen Key-th

The Glenlivet
Glen-liv-it

Glenlossie
Glen-loss-ay

Glen Moray
Glen Mor-ay

Glenrothes
Glen-roth-iss

Glen Spey
Glen Spay

Glentauchers
Glen-tock-hers*

Inchgower
Inch-g-ow-er

Kininvie
Kin-in-vee-oo

Knockando
Knock-an-doo

Linkwood
Link-wood

Longmorn
Long-morn

Macallan
Muck-al-un

Macduff
Mack-duff

Mannochmore
Man-ock-mower*

Miltonduff
Mill-ton-duff

Mortlach
Mort-lack*

Roseisle
Rose-eye-l

Speyburn
Spay-bur-n

Strathisla
Strath-eye-lah

Strathmill
Strath-mill

Tamdhu
Tam-doo

Tamnavulin
Tam-na-voo-lin

The Balvenie
The Balv-en-ee

Tomatin
Tow-mat-in

Tomintoul
Tom-in-towel

Tormore
Tor-mower

Lowland (Low-lund)

Annandale
Ann-an-dail

Auchentoshan
Ock-en-tosh-en*

Bladnoch
Blad-nock*

Glenkinchie
Glen-kinch-ee

Island (Eye-lund)

Abhainn Dearg
Aveen Jer-uck

Arran
Ar-ran

Highland Park
Hi-lund Park

Isle of Jura
Eye-l of Joo-rah

Scapa
Ska-pa

Talisker
Tal-iss-kur

Tobermory
Tow-bur-mower-ay

Islay (Eye-lah)

Ardbeg
Ard-beg

Bowmore
Bo-mower

Bruichladdich
Brook-laddie / Broo-ick-laddie*

Bunnahabhain
Buh-nah-hav-enn

Caol Ila
Cull-eela

Kilchoman
Kil-ho-man

Lagavulin
Lah-gah-vool-in

Laphroaig
Lah-froyg

Port Charlotte
Port Shar-lot

Port Ellen
Port Ell-en

Highland (Hi-lund)

Aberfeldy
Ah-bur-fell-dee

Ailsa Bay
Ale-sah Bay

Ardmore
Ard-mower

Auchroisk
Ar-thrusk

Balblair
Bal-blair

Ben Nevis
Ben Nev-iss

Blair Atholl
Blair Ath-ull

Clynelish
Kline-leash

Dalmore
Dal-mower

Deanston
Deen-stun

Edradour
Ed-rad-ow-er

Fettercairn
Fett-uhr-care-n

Glencadam
Glen-cad-am

Glen Garioch
Glen Gee-ree

Glengoyne
Glen-goyn

Glenmorangie
Glen-morrun-jee

Glen Ord
Glen Ord

Glenturret
Glen-turr-et

Kilkerran
Kill-ker-ran

Loch Lomond
Lock Low-mund*

Oban
Oa-bun

Old Pulteney
Old Pult-nay

Royal Brackla
Royal Brack-lah*

Royal Lochnagar
Royal Lock-nah-gar*

Teaninich
Teen-in-ick

The Speyside
The Spay-side

Tullibardine
Tully-bard-in

Campbeltown (Cam-bell-town)

Glen Scotia
Glen Skoh-sha

Springbank
Spring-bank

Since the initial posting I've had some requests to add a list of distilleries that are no longer producing whisky (for whatever reason) so I've added these below. Many thanks to Sandy Kennaway from Deeside Drinks for helping compile the list.

Mothballed Distilleries

Braes of Glenlivet
Brayz of Glen-liv-it

Convalmore
Kon-val-mower

Coleburn
Coal-bur-n

Glen Albyn
Glen Al-bin

Glen Mhor
Glen Mower

Glen Avon
Glen Ay-vahn

Glenlochy
Glen-lock-ay*

Glenugie
Glen-oo-gee

Glenury Royal
Glen-oo-ree Royal

Rosebank
Row-z-bank

St. Magdelene / Linlithgow
Saint Mag-dah-lin / Lin-lith-go

Brora
Bro-rah

Mosstowie
Moss-t-ow-ee

Millburn
Mill-bur-n

Killyloch
Kill-ay-lock*

Now that you have mastered Scotch Whisky pronunciations why not fix yourself a Toddy (the precursor to the cock-tail, just add bitters) as recommended by Professor Jerry Thomas in his 1862 Bartender's Guide;

134. Whiskey Toddy

1 teaspoonful of sugar.
1/2 wine-glass of water (1 ounce, 25ml)
1 do. of whiskey. (2 ounces, 50ml - Glen Garioch 1991 54.7%abv)
1 small lump of ice.
Stir with a spoon.

Sláinte! (Slaw-n-jeh!)

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Adam Elmegirab
Bar Consultant / Compounder
Evo-lution / Dr. Adam Elmegirab's Bitters

E-mail: adam.elmegirab@evo-lution.org
Web: www.evo-lution.org / www.bokersbitters.co.uk
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