The Task

Glencadam Distillery is a historic single malt producer based in Brechin, Angus, Scotland, and an important part of the whisky landscape as it approaches its 200th anniversary in 2025. This milestone year will see the introduction of a full rebrand, new bottle and packaging designs, and the opening of a multi million pound visitor centre. The task was to create a new Shopify site that would reflect the significance of this moment and present Glencadam with the sense of heritage, refinement and warmth that defines the brand.

The project required the full integration of new branding and illustrations, a strong focus on showcasing the visitor centre, the ability to sell visitor centre tickets, and a clear presentation of the whisky production process. In addition, the client requested support with content so the storytelling felt consistent and polished.

This project sat alongside wider technical work, including the re platforming of the Tomintoul Single Malt website from Joomla to WordPress and the development of an SEO roadmap for both brands.

Client

Glencadam

Built on

Services

Web Development

UX / UI Design

Navigation Architecture

Render by jmarchitects

Design

The design centred on presenting the new visitor centre as the focal point of the experience while capturing the luxury and heritage behind the Glencadam brand. A soft paper texture was introduced to create depth and a subtle handcrafted feel. The colour palette combined two shades of beige for an elegant base, complemented by burgundy accents to draw attention to key elements.

Illustrations were used lightly and toned down so they added personality without distracting from the main content. Typography was kept straightforward and easy to read, with character introduced through the illustrations rather than playful type. Rounded elements like pill shaped buttons and soft slider controls helped keep the overall feel friendly and approachable. The zig zag pattern from the updated bottle designs was used along section edges to add gentle movement and energy.

Photography by Studio Mustard

Bespoke Shopify Theme

The site was structured to support ticket sales, product browsing and the storytelling central to the brand’s anniversary year. The Glencadam site acts as the polished front door to the range, guiding users through the experience with clarity.

This project sits alongside other technical work for the wider portfolio, including the Tomintoul re platforming and the SEO activity planned for the coming year. The Glencadam site stands as the flagship build, ready to support future optimisation and paid search campaigns.

Photography by Studio Mustard

Mucky Puddle approached our new creative direction with clarity and strategic focus, working closely with the Glencadam marketing team throughout. Their collaborative, well-structured process kept the project running smoothly. We’re thrilled with the new Glencadam website, which achieves our key aims: strong functionality, compelling storytelling and an intuitive user experience.

- Johnnie Blue, Glencadam

Photography by Studio Mustard

Conclusion

Glencadam’s 200th anniversary marks a defining moment for the distillery. The new website brings together the rebrand, the visitor centre and the refreshed visual identity into a cohesive and refined digital experience.

Through thoughtful design, clear storytelling and a steady technical foundation, this Shopify site honours two centuries of craftsmanship while positioning Glencadam confidently for its next chapter.

Visit Website