The old, original Clynelish distillery was built by the Marquess of Stafford (later the Duke of Sutherland) in 1819, providing a market for barley grown by his tenants. The original site then closed in 1968 to make room for the larger, more modern Brora, which thrived until the early 1980s before closing and then being reestablished in 2021. The Clynelish distillery we know today sits across the road from Brora and began production in 1969. The Marquess and his tenants have all gone, but the barley that makes Clynelish is still malted in the Northern Highlands and water is still piped down from the Clynemilton Burn to the distillery. Now, Clynelish proudly serves as one of the Four Corners distilleries of Johnnie Walker. Here, craftspeople distil the rich Highland malt that is enjoyed around the world on its own and as a vital component of Johnnie Walker whiskies.