Gaelic and Scotch Whisky / Gàidhlig agus Uisge-beatha Albannach

Gaelic is the original and ancient language of Scotland and has a rich oral and written tradition. Similarly, Scotch whisky distilling has a long tradition in Scotland so it is not surprising that over time Gaelic has become embedded in the Scotch whisky industry.

Originally, Gaelic was the language of making whisky. It was still commonly heard in the Highland and Island distilleries at the start of the twentieth century and old Gaelic names can be found for all parts of the still and whisky manufacturing process not mere translations of their English equivalents. Gaelic was also a way of keeping illegal stills secret from the English-speaking revenue officers.

However, it is beginning to be heard again in a few of the new distilleries in the Outer Hebrides and Western Isles. Although Gaelic disappeared as the language of manufacturing it still remains today important in the branding of Scotch whisky products. The majority of brands and products that use Gaelic words or phrases are single malts and Gaelic brand names tend to be used to exemplify the upper end of the whisky market.

Use of Gaelic adds to the authenticity and provenance of a single malt whisky. A Gaelic name today can play a central part in the history, marketing and identity of a Scotch Whisky.

To illustrate the point, below is a list of Gaelic Scotch whisky distillery names and their translated meaning.

What’s in a name? 80 Gaelic distillery names & their meaning…

Aberfeldy Pool of the water god
Aberlour Chattering burn
Abhainn Dearg Red river
Allt' a Bhainne The milk burn
Ardbeg Small headland
Ardmore Big promontory
Arran Place of peaked hills
Auchentoshan Corner of the field
Auchroisk Ford across the red stream
Aultmore Big burn
Balblair Farm on the moor
Balmenach The middle farm
Balvenie Village of monks
BenRiach Speckled mountain
Benrinnes Promontory hill
Benromach Hill of flowing streams
Blair Athol Plain of the new Ireland
Bowmore The big reef
Brackla Speckled hilltop or "the badger's sett"
Braeval (Braes of Glenlivet) Hillside or steep bank
Bruichladdich The brae by the shore
Bunnahabhain Mouth or bottom of the river
Caol Ila The Sound of Islay
Cardhu Black rock
Clynelish Golden meadows (alternatively sloped garden)
Cragganmore (Cragan Mor) Big crag
Craigellachie Dangerous rock (or rock of the stony place)
Dailuaine The green vale or meadow
Dallas Dhu Field by the black waterfall
Dalmore Big meadow land (Gaelic and Norse)
Dalwhinnie Plain of meetings or meeting place or field of the champion
Deanston The hill fort or Dean's Farm
Duff town Town named after its founder, James Duff
Edradour Between two waters
Fettercairn Foot of the mount (Cairn 0' Mount) or wooded slope
Glen Elgin Glen of little Ireland
Glen Grant Grant's Glen (a Grant founded the distillery)
Glen Moray Gaelic Glen Moireibh, meaning valley of the sea settlement
Glen Ord The glen of the rounded hill
Glen Scotia Glen of the Scots
GlenalIachie Glen at the rocky place
Glenburgie Glen of the fort (part of norse)
Glendronach Glen of the brambles (blackberries)
Glendullan Glen of the standing rock
Glenfarclas Glen of the green grassland
Glenfiddich Fid's Glen or Glen of the stag
Glenglassaugh Glen of the grey green place
Glengoyne Glen of the wild geese
Glenkinchie Glen of the de Quinccy family landowners
Glenlivet Glen of the River Livet or Glen of the smooth place
Glenlossie Glen of the River Lossie
Glenmorangie The glen of tranquillity (or Glen ofthe big meadow)
Glentauchers Glen of the Tauchers burn
Glenturret Glen of the little dry stream
Isle of Arran Isle of the high place
Isle of Jura Isle of the deer
Kilchoman Church of Saint Choman
Knockando Little black hill
Knockdhu Black hill
Lagavulin The hollow where the mill is
Laphroaig The hollow by the broad bay
Ledaig (or Tobermory) The small slope (or the Norse derivation is a bay difficult to enter)
Longmorn Holy man
Macallan 'Fillan's plain or son of Allan
Mannochmore Place of the monks
Miltonduff Vale of Duff (family name)
Mortlach Bowl-shaped valley or law place of Moray or big bill
Oban Little bay
Royal Brackla Royal name given by King William IV to the malt whisky which he liked (Brackla means speckled hill slope or 'the badger's sett')
Royal Lochnagar Noisy or laughing water (Royal comes from the distillery being on Balmoral Estate)
Scapa Boat
Strathmill Broad river valley
Strathisla Wide valley of the River Isla
Talisker Sloping rock
Tamdhu Small black hill
Tamnavulin The mill on the hill
Teaninic House on the moor
Tomintoul The barn on the little hill or the mound on the hill
Tormore Big hill
Tullibardine Hill of warnin