Top 10 most popular whisky distilleries in 2026
Cask Connoisseur has released its annual ranking of the UK and Ireland’s favourite whisky distilleries, but which producer came out on top?
Now in its fourth year, the list is created by The Cask Connoisseur, which is run by Luke Slater, beer connoisseur, Chris Walster, whisky connoisseur, and Isobel Walster, marketing connoisseur.
The index is taken from an overall score of 3,564, which analyses figures from the number of Google ratings and reviews, TripAdvisor ratings and reviews, and social media metrics covering facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn. If data was unavailable, a score of 0 was given.
The Cask Connoisseur noted that the list isn’t ranking the quality of spirits being produced, but each distillery’s online popularity, visitor reputation and social media reach. This year’s study featured 295 distilleries from the UK and the Ireland.
The 2026 top 10 featured no distilleries from Northern Ireland or Wales, with Copeland Distillery placing highest for the former (in 19th position) and Penderyn for the latter (in 25th place). Scotland dominated the top 10 with six distilleries. However, it was a producer from the Republic of Ireland that was deemed to be the region’s most loved.
Scroll down to find out which distillery came out on top.
10. Micil Distillery, Republic of Ireland
Distillery popularity index: 2,313.5
Galway’s Micil Distillery leapt back into this year’s top 10 with a 14-place rise. The distillery placed sixth when the list debuted back in 2023. When it opened in Salthill in 2016, Micil became Galway’s first legal distillery in more than 100 years, making Irish whiskey, gin and poítín. It is owned and operated by brothers Pádraic and Jimín Ó Griallais, who are sixth-generation Connemara poitín distillers and direct descendants of Micil Mac Chearra, the family’s original distiller.
According to Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) data, Micil also ranked second in Irish whiskey distillery visitor experiences that showed the most growth for the 12 months up to June 2025.
9. Isle of Harris Distillery, Scotland
Distillery popularity index: 2,320.0
The biggest climber in this year’s top 10 was Isle of Harris, which rose 23 spots from position 32. The distillery, located in the Outer Hebrides, celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and was busy in the new product realm with releases in global travel retail and in collaboration with menswear brand Sunspel. Perhaps its greatest moment came when it made its star turn in the Golden Globes goody bag, which had an overall value of just under US$1 million.
It hasn’t all been sunshine and roses, however. In April last year, the distillery announced job cuts and a reduction in production following “challenging headwinds” in the spirits industry.
8. Dingle Distillery, Republic of Ireland
Distillery popularity index: 2326.0
County Derry’s Dingle is known for producing both award-winning gins and Irish whiskeys. The distillery features dramatic surroundings, including a wild coastline and landscapes, and celebrated a major milestone last year with the release of a 10-year-old single malt.
The distillery’s private tours and deep passion of its tour guides have proved a hit, judging by its top 10 standing, with drinkers able to sample its whiskey journey first-hand – from the first set of releases from 2016 to its first core single malt and now ten-year-old – and new gin flavours like Orange & Sea Salt.
7. Isle of Raasay Distillery, Scotland
Distillery popularity index: 2,350.5
Hebridean distillery Isle of Raasay amped up its luxury accommodation offering last year with five new cabins (or bothies) that boast floor-to-ceiling views of the island’s countryside, while also debuting The Raasay Way experience to give guests a chance to live the life of a distiller for two days.
Beyond its recognition on this list, it was also awarded in the top 10% places to visit worldwide by TripAdvisor. With an otter population to rival its human one in terms of numbers, and accessible by a scenic ferry, the distillery has grown into a popular spot for secluded – and luxurious – whisky retreats.
6. Cotswolds Distillery, England
Distillery popularity index: 2,353.5
Cotswolds once topped this list in 2024, but has fallen out of the top five this year. It remains a focal point for English whisky, however, as a leading voice for the category’s geographical indication (GI) and with its participation in initiatives such as English Whisky Week.
Not that one needs an extra incentive to visit its serene distillery in the English countryside, but Cotswolds also brought out an on-pack promotion on Ocado and at Waitrose locations in March, offering lucky shoppers trips. It also recently threw its name in the aperitivo hat with the launch of Wild Spritz.
5. Eden Mill Distillery, Scotland
Distillery popularity index: 2,413.5
Eden Mill cut the ribbon on its new multi-million-pound distillery and visitor centre in St Andrews last October and, for good measure, was also one of our top distillery openings of 2025. Our thoughts seemed to align with the public, as it jumped up 18 places in this year’s list following its first full year of operation.
The distillery suffered an immediate wobble with the threat of closure after opening, but equity firm Ruby Capital acquired the Eden Mill business and assets for an undisclosed sum in November. The site has a 40-seat cocktail bar with panoramic views and a retail space among its allures, plus a state-of-the-art golf simulator.
4. Kilchoman Distillery, Scotland
Distillery popularity index: 2,433.0
The sole Islay representative on this list, Kilchoman’s grain-to-glass operation continues to be popular with whisky fans, where it grows its own barley and maltings on site. If there is, or was, one issue with its remote setting, it might have been the lack of 4G mobile coverage for visitors. This was fixed in March, however, after the implementation of a new EE mast on the west coast of Islay.
“From a business perspective, our visitors are now able to post reviews and photos before they leave the site, something guests often forgot to do before, as they had to wait until they had a mobile signal,” said general manager Islay Heads.
Heads also added that it’s not just the social media folk who win: “We can also now run live presentations and tastings from areas outside the distillery, which allows more people to see how our traditional farm distilling process works. It makes our ability to communicate with suppliers and team members much quicker as well.”
3. Lindores Abbey Distillery, Scotland
Distillery popularity index: 2,448.5
Lindores Abbey founder Drew McKenzie Smith spoke to SB last year about how the guest experience is a key priority for the team, and the hard work is paying off with the distillery breaking into this year’s top three.
McKenzie Smith said the distillery welcomes people from 70 different countries to its home in Fife, but it’s not just for the whisky. History draws in the punters too, with the site located across from the ruins of the Lindores Abbey monastery, widely regarded as the ‘spiritual home’ of Scotch.
In February, the Lowlands whisky maker also confirmed it had made a small number of staff redundant following a strategic review. Last month, it unveiled a single malt called Nectere, which has been aged in four different types of Sherry casks.
2. Glenfiddich Distillery, Scotland
Distillery popularity index: 2,537.5
Alongside warehouse experiences and masterclasses, Dufftown’s Glenfiddich offers three different tours: a Milestones tour that traces its 130-year history; a Malt Master tour that digs into the distillery’s solera process; and the Explorer tour, which offers a guided walk-through of the distillery, which saw its first drop of spirit on Christmas Day of 1887. For Scotch fans, this is hallowed ground.
The big-name brand from William Grant & Sons also boasts one of the largest social media followings in the study, with 1.3 million followers on Facebook and 346,00 on Instagram. Its ties to Formula One and Aston Martin may have helped too, as the distillery rose by four spots to second in this year’s list.
1. Teeling Distillery, Republic of Ireland
Distillery popularity index: 2,679.5
Retaining its crown from last year is Teeling Irish whiskey. The Dublin-based distillery stretched its lead in first place by an impressive 142 points.
When it opened in 2015, the site brought distilling back to the Irish capital for the first time in more than 125 years. Since then, it has improved its visitor experience with the renovation of its exhibition and bar areas (Irish Coffees, yes please), welcoming between 115,000 and 130,000 visitors annually, including its one-millionth visitor last May. The Spirits Business had the fortune of being one of those, when visiting for its 10th anniversary celebrations.
Last month, Bacardi took full ownership of Teeling. Brothers and founders Jack and Stephen Teeling remain part of the brand to shape its future and drive growth.
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