Dalwhinnie distillery, situated in the Highland village of Dalwhinnie in Scotland, produces single malt Scotch whisky. Whilst labelled as Highland, as the Dalwhinnie distillery is located in the Badenoch and Strathspey ward of the Highland Council, it is in the Speyside region - noting that under SWA regulations the full Speyside region falls within the boundaries of the Highlands and so can be labelled as such.[2][3][4] The distillery is owned by Diageo.
The site for the distillery was chosen for its access to clear spring water from Lochan-Doire-Uaine and abundant peat from the surrounding bogs.[5]
Set in mountain scenery, Dalwhinnie is the highest distillery in Scotland with a visitors centre at 1,154ft (352m) above sea level. The highest distillery is actually Braeval, in Glenlivet at 1,163ft (354m).[6]
The name Dalwhinnie is derived from Gaelic word Dail Chuinnidh, which means meeting place, referring to the meeting of ancient cattle drovers' routes through the mountains.[7]
History
1897: John Grant of Grantown-on-Spey, George Sellar of Kingussie, and designer Alexander Mackenzie of Kingussie, put up an estimated £10,000 to build the Strathspey Distillery at Dalwhinnie between the Great North Road and the Highland Railway. Mackenzie had previous experience with designing a distillery in Kingussie. [8]
1898: In February production begins but by the summer the venture was already in liquidation. In October A. P. Blyth buys the distillery for his son and renames it Dalwhinnie announcing ‘considerable improvements on the building and plant’.[8]
1905: The largest distillers in the United States, Cook and Bernheimer, buy the distillery at auction for just £1,250. Many fear the take-over of the Scotch whisky industry. A huge warehouse in Leith blends Dalwhinnie with other whiskies "to suit the American palate".[9]
1919: Prohibition hits America. Dalwhinnie returns to Scottish hands; they are those of Sir James Calder, chairman of Macdonald Greenlees, also blenders in Leith.[10]
1926: Macdonald Greenlees is itself acquired; by the Distillers Company Ltd. (DCL). Dalwhinnie gains its fifth owner in under thirty years and is licensed to James Buchanan and Co. (famous for the Black and White and Buchanan blends).[8]
1934: A fire in the early hours of 1 February closes the distillery for four years; perhaps coincidentally this is also the year in which electricity first comes to the village, replacing paraffin lamps.[10]
1937: As rebuilding continues, winter snowdrifts 20ft (6.1m) high hamper work.[10]
1938: After four years Dalwhinnie re-opens in April, rebuilt and refreshed.[10]
1940: Dalwhinnie shuts again, in common with most distilleries, as a result of wartime restrictions on their use of barley.[10]
1961: The wash stills are converted to steam heating from a coal-fired boiler.[8]
1968: The maltings cease production. Barley is now brought in from specialist maltsters for greater control over peatiness and alcohol yield.[8]
1969: British Rail closes the distillery’s private siding; Dalwhinnie whiskies now leave for the south by road.[8]
1972: Oil-firing replaces coal as modernisation continues.[8]
1987: The distillery becomes part of United Distillers. United Distillers was a Scottish company formed in 1987 combining the businesses of Distillers Company and Arthur Bell & Sons, both owned by Guinness. During a modernisation of the Dalwhinnie plant the traditional worm tubs were removed and shell and tube condensers installed.[10]
1989: Dalwhinnie 15 year old becomes one of the Six Classic Malts of Scotland.[11]
1994: Dalwhinnie is confirmed by the Met. Office as having the coldest average recorded temperature, 6°C (43°F), of any inhabited region in Scotland and probably the U.K.[11]
1995: Distillery refitted. Traditional worm tubs are reinstated, having been removed several years earlier.[11]
1997: Diageo was formed in 1997 from the merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan and Dalwhinnie became part of the drinks giant’s portfolio.[12]
Variants
As of 2019, Dalwhinnie single malt whiskies are available in the following expressions:[13]
Scotch whisky is malt whisky or grain whisky, made in Scotland.
Speyside single malts are single malt Scotch whiskies, distilled in Strathspey, the area around the River Spey in Moray and Badenoch and Strathspey, in northeastern Scotland.
Royal Brackla distillery is a Highland Scotch whisky distillery on the Cawdor Estate, near Nairn in Scotland. The distillery is operated by John Dewar & Sons Ltd for Bacardi.
The Glenlivet distillery is a distillery near Ballindalloch in Moray, Scotland, that produces single malt Scotch whisky. It is the oldest legal distillery in Scotland. It was founded in 1824 and has operated almost continuously since.
Strathspey is the region around the strath of the River Spey, Scotland, split between the Moray council area and the Badenoch and Strathspey committee area of Highland.
William Grant & Sons Ltd is an independent, family-owned Scottish company that distills Scotch whisky and other selected categories of spirits. It was established in 1887 by William Grant, and is run by Grant's descendants as of 2018. It is the largest of the handful of Scotch whisky distillers remaining in family ownership.
The Classic Malts of Scotland is a selection of six single malt whiskies, launched and marketed together in 1988 by United Distillers and Vintners which is now owned by Diageo. They are often displayed together in bars and liquor stores. Diageo has since marketed other single malt labels and expressions with the Classic Malts labeling. The six original malts are:
Caol Ila distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery near Port Askaig on the isle of Islay, Scotland, owned by Diageo.
Knockdhu distillery is a whisky distillery situated in Knock, Banffshire and owned by Inver House Distillers Limited.
Cragganmore distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery situated in the village of Ballindalloch in Banffshire, Scotland.
The Speyside distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery near the hamlet of Drumguish in the Speyside region of Scotland, close to the village of Kingussie. It currently produces the SPEY single malt, BEINN DUBH Single malt and BYRON'S Hand crafted gin
Inchgower distillery is a whisky distillery producing a single malt of the same name located on the outskirts of Buckie, Moray, Scotland.
Glen Elgin distillery is a Scotch single malt whisky distillery in Fogwatt, Moray, Scotland.
Knockando distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery, located in Knockando, Moray, in the Strathspey whisky-producing area of Scotland.
Glendullan distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Dufftown, Scotland in the Speyside region. Glendullan is owned by Diageo.
Glentauchers distillery is a Speyside Scottish whisky distillery in Mulben, Keith, Scotland.
Teaninich distillery is a scotch whisky distillery in Alness, Scotland.
Grand Old Parr is a blended Scotch whisky produced by Diageo in Scotland. Is named after the Old Tom Parr, the reputed oldest man in England. Launched in 1909, it is found in export markets such as Japan, Mexico, South America and the United States, and is no longer distributed in the United Kingdom.
Braeval distillery is a distiller of Scotch whisky in Chapeltown, Banffshire, Scotland. Founded in 1973 as Braes of Glenlivet, the distillery is owned by Chivas Brothers. The name was changed to avoid confusion with an unrelated single malt.
Roseisle distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery, in Roseisle, near Elgin, Morayshire, in the Strathspey region of Scotland.
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