Dalwhinnie distillery

Last updated
Dalwhinnie distillery
Dalwhinnie Distillery - geograph.org.uk - 1816007.jpg
Region: Speyside
Location Dalwhinnie
Owner Diageo
Founded1898
FounderJohn Grant, George Sellar and Alexander Mackenzie
ArchitectCharles Chree Doig
StatusActive
Water sourceAllt an t-Sluic
No. of stills
  • 1 wash still: 17,000 L
  • 1 spirit still: 14,000 L [1]
Capacity1,300,000 L
14-02-02-Dalwhinnie-by-RalfR.jpg

The Dalwhinnie distillery, located in the Highland village of Dalwhinnie in Scotland, produces single malt Scotch whisky. The Dalwhinnie distillery is located in the Badenoch and Strathspey ward of the Highland Council in the Speyside region. SWA regulations place the full Speyside region within the boundaries of the Highlands. [2] [3] [4] The distillery is owned by Diageo.

Contents

The site for the distillery was chosen for its access to the available 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 1,154 ft (352 m) above sea level. The highest distillery in Scotland is Braeval, in Glenlivet at 1,163 ft (354 m). [6]

The name Dalwhinnie is derived from the Gaelic Dail Chuinnidh, which means meeting place, referring to the meeting of ancient cattle drovers' routes through the mountains. [7]

History

In 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] In February 1898, production began but by the summer the venture was already in liquidation. In October, A. P. Blyth bought the distillery for his son and renamed it Dalwhinnie announcing 'considerable improvements on the building and plant'. [8]

In 1905, the largest distillers in the United States, Cook and Bernheimer, bought the distillery at auction for just £1,250. A huge warehouse in Leith blends Dalwhinnie with other whiskies "to suit the American palate". [9] In 1919, prohibition hit America. Dalwhinnie returns to Scottish hands; they are those of Sir James Calder, chairman of Macdonald Greenlees, also blenders in Leith. [9] In 1926, Macdonald Greenlees is itself acquired; by the Distillers Company Ltd. (DCL). Dalwhinnie gained its fifth owner in under thirty years and was licensed to James Buchanan and Co. [8]

On the 1st of Febuary 1934, a fire closed the distillery for four years; perhaps coincidentally this is also the year in which electricity first came to the village, replacing paraffin lamps. [9] As rebuilding continued, winter snowdrifts 20 ft (6.1 m) high hamper work in 1937. [9] After four years Dalwhinnie re-opened in April 1938. [9] Dalwhinnie shut down in 1940 as a result of wartime restrictions on their use of barley. [9]

In 1961, the wash stills were converted to steam heating from a coal-fired boiler. [8] In 1968, the maltings ceased production. Barley is now brought in from specialist maltsters for greater control over peatiness and alcohol yield. [8] In 1969, British Rail closed the distillery's private siding; Dalwhinnie whiskies now leave for the south by road. [8]

In 1972, oil-firing replaced coal. [8] In 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. [9]

In 1989, Dalwhinnie 15 year old became one of the Six Classic Malts of Scotland. [6] A new visitor centre opens in 1991. [6] The distillery was refitted in 1995: traditional worm tubs were reinstated, having been removed several years earlier. [6]

In 1997, Diageo was formed from the merging of Guinness, Grand Metropolitan, and Dalwhinnie, becoming part of the drinks giant's portfolio. [10]

Variants

As of 2019, Dalwhinnie single malt whiskies are available in the following expressions: [11]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Dalwhinnie distillery
  2. ↑ "Dalwhinnie - Scottish Whisky". www.scotlandwhisky.com/distilleries/dalwhinnie. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Dalwhinnie - Scottish Whisky". scotchwhisky.com/whiskypedia/1837/dalwhinnie. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009". www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/2890/regulation/10/made. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Dalwhinnie Distillery". ForWhiskeyLovers.com. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "DALWHINNIE - Whisky Antique, Whisky & Spirits". www.whiskyantique.com. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  7. ↑ O'Donoghue, Deborah (24 June 2021). "Dalwhinnie Distillery – a marriage in the mountains". Travel Tomorrow. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kindersley, Dorling (2008). Whisky. Dorling Kindersley Limited.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Helen Artur, single malt whisky. ISBN   90-5764-236-0
  10. ↑ Ipsen, Erik; Tribune, International Herald (13 May 1997). "$33 Billion Giant Guinness to Unite With Grand Met". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "Our brands: Dalwhinnie". Malts.com. Diageo. Retrieved 26 December 2019.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scotch whisky</span> Malt or grain whisky distilled in Scotland

Scotch whisky, often simply called whisky or Scotch, is malt whisky or grain whisky made in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Speyside single malt</span> Single malt Scotch whiskies distilled in Strathspey

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Brackla distillery</span>

Royal Brackla distillery is a Highland single malt Scotch whisky distillery on the Cawdor Estate, near Nairn in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Glenlivet distillery</span> Distillery near Ballindalloch in Moray, Scotland that produces single malt Scotch whisky

The Glenlivet distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery near Ballindalloch in Moray, Scotland, that produces single malt Scotch whisky. It is the oldest legal distillery in the Highlands of Scotland. It was founded in 1824 and has operated almost continuously since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strathspey, Scotland</span> Region of Scotland

Strathspey is a region of the Scottish Highlands comprising part of the valley of the Spey. It includes the towns of Aviemore, Boat of Garten, Grantown-on-Spey, and Aberlour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classic Malts of Scotland</span> Whisky collection

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:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenkinchie distillery</span> Whisky distillery

Glenkinchie distillery is a Scotch single malt whisky distillery in East Lothian, Scotland. It is one of the six distilleries in the Lowland region. It is owned by the drinks giant Diageo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cragganmore distillery</span> Scotch whisky distillery

Cragganmore distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery situated in the village of Ballindalloch in Banffshire, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oban distillery</span> Whisky distillery in Argyll and Bute, Scotland

Oban distillery is a Highland single malt Scotch whisky distillery located in the Scottish west coast port of Oban. Established in 1794, it was built before the town of the same name, which sprang up later in the surrounding craggy harbour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardhu distillery</span> Whisky distillery in Speyside, Scotland

Cardhu distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery near Archiestown, Moray, Scotland. It was founded in 1824 by whisky smuggler John Cumming and his wife Helen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glen Elgin distillery</span> Scotch single malt whisky distillery

Glen Elgin distillery is a Scotch single malt whisky distillery in Fogwatt, Moray, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knockando distillery</span> Whisky distillery in Strathspey, Scotland

Knockando distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery, located in Knockando, Moray, in the Strathspey whisky-producing area of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glendullan distillery</span>

Glendullan distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Dufftown, Scotland in the Speyside region. Glendullan is owned by Diageo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blair Athol distillery</span>

Blair Athol distillery is a Highland single malt Scotch whisky distillery located on the south edge of Pitlochry in Perthshire, near the River Tummel in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linkwood distillery</span>

Linkwood distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Elgin, in the Speyside region of Scotland. It is owned by the British drinks giant Diageo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mortlach distillery</span> Distiller of Scotch whisky in Dufftown, Moray, Scotland

Mortlach distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Dufftown, Moray, Scotland. Founded in 1823, the distillery is owned by Diageo. The whisky is a key component in several Johnnie Walker bottlings, and Diageo also markets four Mortlach single malts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teaninich distillery</span> Whisky distillery

Teaninich distillery is a Highland single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Alness, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convalmore distillery</span> Whisky distillery in Moray, Scotland

Convalmore distillery is a inactive Speyside single malt Scotch whisky in Dufftown, Moray, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coleburn distillery</span> Scotch single malt whisky distillery

Coleburn distillery is a inactive Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Longmorn, Elgin in Scotland.


Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd. is an independent, family-owned business which produces Scotch whisky and other spirits, based in Broxburn, Scotland. It was founded by Leonard Russell, Snr. in 1933. They own three single malt whisky distilleries: Glengoyne distillery, Tamdhu distillery, and Rosebank distillery and one gin distillery: Edinburgh Gin. They also produce a number of other distilled spirits including Smokehead Islay whisky.

References

56°56′24.46″N4°14′17.02″W / 56.9401278°N 4.2380611°W / 56.9401278; -4.2380611

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.