Inchgower
When the Wilsons were forced to abandon their Tochineal Distillery after years of dispute with the landowner in 1871, Alexander Wilson promptly built a new distillery a few miles away near Buckie: Inchgower, fitted out with equipment salvaged from the old site. Just 65 years later, the family went bankrupt during the Great Depression, leading to one of the most unusual sales in Scotch whisky history: Buckie Town Council bought the distillery in 1936 for a mere £1,000, making it the only town council in Scotland ever to own a distillery. Just two years later Inchgower passed to Arthur Bell & Sons – a connection to the Bell's blend family that continues under Diageo to this day.
Content: 0.7 Liter (€65.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Code: PFINGSTEN26
Content: 0.7 Liter (€88.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€48.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€84.27 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€108.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€135.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€128.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€81.41 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€108.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€95.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Is it true a town council once owned Inchgower?
Yes - after the Wilsons went bankrupt in 1936, Buckie Town Council actually bought the distillery for around £1,000 to save it from ruin, a unique episode in Scotch whisky history. The council sold it on to Arthur Bell & Sons as early as 1938.
Why does Inchgower taste of the sea?
Its location near Buckie, once a major herring-fishing town on the Moray Firth coast, comes through in the malt: a salty, maritime character that evokes sea air rather than smoke, appealing to fans of Old Pulteney or lighter Islay styles like Bowmore.
Flavour profile
Taste: Fresh and lightly salty with a maritime edge, subtle spice and a soft, unassuming body - no peat monster, but an approachable coastal malt.
Recommended enjoyment: Neat alongside smoked fish, or as a gentle introduction to maritime malt styles.
As the official Flora & Fauna bottling is currently out of stock, we currently recommend the Inchgower Madeira Cask Finish by Murray McDavid, an independent bottling with added fruit depth from Madeira cask maturation.
Facts and figures
Founded 1871 by Alexander Wilson near Buckie, Moray. Sold to Buckie Town Council in 1936 (£1,000), sold on to Arthur Bell & Sons in 1938. Part of Diageo since 1997. Most of the output still goes into blends such as Bell's.