Chivas Brothers opens Linn House to the public

Scotch whisky distiller Chivas Brothers’ luxury Victorian guesthouse, Linn House, has opened to the public for the first time, in response to the growing demand for whisky tourism.

Previously only accessible via invite, the manor, located by the banks of the River Isla in Keith, Scotland, will immerse visitors in the Pernod Ricard-owned brand’s whiskies and its Speyside surroundings.

Jacques-Henri Brive, head of brand advocacy and prestige acceleration at Chivas Brothers, led the project.

Of the company’s foray into hospitality, he said: “Linn House represents an opportunity for us to encourage global consumers to connect with the region in which many of our iconic whiskies are made.

“Just as a luxury fashion brand has an atelier or a boutique perfumer has its by-invitation salon, the heart of our whiskies lies here in Scotland. As demand for whisky expands around the world, more consumers are intrigued to discover and explore our heritage.

“Linn House is an extension of our brand homes, affording anyone who visits the luxury of time: to rest, to indulge and to enjoy all that the region has to offer. It is our ambition that Linn House becomes a destination hospitality offering here in Speyside.”

A report from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) showed that whisky tourism was the number one attraction for visitors to Scotland in 2022, revealing that more than £85m was spent in total at sites across Scotland’s five whisky regions – up 90% since 2010.

A whisky retreat

Designed by Robert Kynoch-Shand, Linn House’s origins can be traced back to 1870. Now reimagined for modern standards with luxury amenities, the manor can be booked by groups in blocks of either six or 12 bedrooms.

Featuring rustic-chic interiors, each bedroom has a unique design that draws inspiration from one of Chivas Brothers’ distilleries across Scotland.

Guests can also relax in the drawing room in front of a Victorian fireplace, walk the grounds and gardens, and explore the vast whisky library, which is home to some of the finest bottles found in the Chivas Brothers portfolio, including single malt whiskies from The Glenlivet, Aberlour and Scapa, as well as blended whiskies from Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and Ballantine’s.

For dinner, resident chef Erik Obri, who has worked at Michelin-starred restaurants and AA rosette hotels, prepares a three-course menu using local and seasonal ingredients such as pheasant and hand-dived Orkney scallops, alongside a traditional haggis address.

With the house acting as a whisky retreat, the team can also organise curated itineraries that showcase the area and its legacy as the home of Chivas Brothers’ whiskies.

These include tours of The Glenlivet and Strathisla distilleries, foraging trips, fly fishing and clay pigeon shooting, a visit to Ballindalloch Castle, golf, cocktail masterclasses and explorations of the smugglers trails.

Accommodation options vary, from 12 guests in six rooms for £9,600 to full-house reservations for 24 guests in 12 rooms for £19,200.

A minimum two-night stay applies for all bookings and comes with breakfast and three-course seasonal or Scottish dinner with wine selection, an ‘exploration’ drink package and a bottle of Linn House Reserve whisky for each guest.

Recently, Chivas Brothers revealed investment plans to improve its bottling site in Kilmalid, Scotland, and pledged £60m to hit net zero by the end of 2026.