On the 3rd day to Christmas, jmarchitects gave to thee… Three Historic Features restored at Glencadam Distillery!

As we continue our festive countdown, today we’re celebrating the thoughtful craft behind our Glencadam Distillery Visitor Centre — a project where heritage, materiality and experience come together in a contemporary new chapter for Scotland’s oldest working distillery.

Here are the three historic features we cherished most:

1️⃣ Traditional Distillery Roof Forms

Glencadam’s iconic Doig Ventilators returned to the distillery skyline, a proud and symbolic moment and milestone, that heralded a new chapter in this historic distillery’s story. We reinterpreted these classic silhouettes as skylights — a nod to tradition while bringing natural light into the heart of the visitor experience.

2️⃣ The VIP Cottage

This original two‑storey building was retained and sensitively re‑planned, ensuring its historic character lives on while welcoming guests in a refreshed role.

3️⃣ Locally Sourced and Reclaimed Stone

By using salvaged stone from Brechin Infirmary alongside new masonry that complements the existing distillery, we reduced embodied carbon whilst reinforcing continuity with the region’s architectural heritage.

Photography Credit: Glencadam Distillery