Cask Connoisseur have revealed their list of the most popular whisky distilleries in the UK and Ireland for 2025. The marketing firm is run by a group of drinks enthusiasts and marketing gurus and they have published a list of popular distilleries for the past two years.

To create their league table, they analysed the number of Google ratings and reviews a distillery received, as well as the number of Tripadvisor ratings and reviews, and social media metrics covering Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. A score of 0 was given if no data was available.

Each distillery was then given an index score out of a possible 3,564. The data was compiled in May 2025 and considered a total of 294 distilleries.

Below we’ll count down the top ten most popular distilleries.

10. ISLE OF RAASAY

For such a small distillery on such a small island, Isle of Raasay making the top ten must seem like a massive achievement. And it surely is, however, there may be some disappointment considering the distillery fell from the sixth spot last year.

Raasay is somewhat unique in that they have a luxury hotel at the distillery that guests can stay in for the night, making the trip to the island and the distillery more than worth the effort.

9. DINGLE

County Kerry’s Dingle Distillery makes the top ten for the first time and is the first of two Irish distilleries to feature in the top ten.

Dingle was founded with the intention of challenging the big boys of Irish whiskey and their rising popularity tells us they’re up to the task. Last year the distillery was placed 20th, and 38th the year before - both considerably ahead of some of their better known rivals.

8. THE LAKES DISTILLERY

Just as Dingle was the first of two Irish distilleries, The Lakes Distillery is the first of two English distilleries in the top ten. They are also a big mover in terms of league position, jumping from last year’s 37th place in the list. A final similarity: their scores were incredibly close, with only half a point separating the two in the popularity index.

Lakes made a name for themselves with a number of limited edition releases since they were founded in 2014. The distillery was purchased by Nyetimber Group last summer, which may have also helped boost their profile.

7. GLENGOYNE

Glengoyne Distillery is located just half an hour’s drive north of Glasgow, sitting very much on the border of the Lowland-Highland line. Perhaps its relatively easy to get to location is a major factor in its high score?

The distillery landed 24th last year and 35th in 2023.

6. GLENFIDDICH

As one of the best selling Scotch single malts in the world, Glenfiddich doesn’t really need much introduction. Guests from around the world flock to the Dufftown-based distillery annually.

One of the keys to Glenfiddich’s success is arguably the consistency of their whisky. That consistency is reflected their score in this table as well, as the distillery landed 6th in 2024 too (albeit with a slightly lower index score compared to last year).

5. LINDORES ABBEY

Despite having only opened in 2017, Lindores Abbey is already proving to be a popular destination for tourists and whisky fans alike. Describing yourself as ‘the spiritual home of Scotch whisky’ is certainly a helpful selling point!

Lindores has hovered just outside the top ten in the past two years (13th in 2023, 14th in 2024), showing that this young distillery’s reputation is very much on the rise.

4. BRUICHLADDICH

Bruichladdich is not short of fans. Their core range of three well-loved brands is ever-popular and their distillery day is always one of the highlights of Feis Ile.

However, that notoriety doesn’t necessarily lead to consistency in Cask Connoisseur’s popularity index. They were also 4th in 2023, but fell to 15th in 2024. That said, being the 15th most popularity from a list of well over 200 can hardly be called a failure…

3. KILCHOMAN

Kings of consistency, Kilchoman have been in the top three in every edition of this list. They’re also the first in this list with a popularity index of over 3,000.

There’s lots to love about Kilchoman. As well as making great whisky, their slightly more inland location at Kilchoman farm sets them apart from their coastline-based Islay neighbours, making them a fantastic distillery to visit when journeying to the island.

2. COTSWOLDS

Cotswolds Distillery topped this list in the first two editions, but were unable to retain their crown this time round. That said, their score of 3,191 is seriously impressive and shows that Cotswolds is a much loved and much talked about champion in the English whisky scene.

English whisky has made a lot of headlines in the past year as the industry strives to earn legal protection for their single malt. Cotswolds being at the forefront of that movement, along with making great whisky in an idyllic location, goes some way to explaining their consistent popularity.

TEELING

Dublin’s Teeling has been a constant presence in the tope ten of these lists, but tops it for the first time in 2025. The distillery was the first new one in the city in over 100 years when it opened in 2015, and they recently revealed that they welcomed their millionth customer to the site.

Only 12 points separated Cotswolds and Teeling showing it was a close race between the two popular brands. Whether first or second, it’s great to see that these relatively young distilleries are attracting so much public attention, at least online, when compared to bigger, more established names. It’s definitely an achievement worth celebrating.

We’ll conclude by inserting the caveat that this list is by no means a definitive ranking of the ‘best’ distilleries or their whisky. In fact, the whisky is barely considered (unless all of a distillery’s online reviews are complimenting the spirit rather than the distillery itself).

However, it’s still an interesting way to gauge which whisky distilleries are making a positive impression on their customers.

If you feel a sense of injustice that your favourite distillery hasn’t made the top 10, make sure to interact with all their socials so they make the list next year. Follow all their pages, leave online reviews, do a silly TikTok dance in their still house - do whatever it takes!