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Dailuaine
Distillery
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
Dailuaine Distillery was founded in 1851 (or 1852 depending on
your information source) by a farmer by the name of William Mackenzie.
Dailuaine single malt, pronounced "Dall-yew-an," which
is Gaelic for "the green vale (valley)," is very difficult
to find. The distillery is located in a scenic area situated between
the Spey River and the Ben Rinnes Mountains. Dailuaine was soon
to come under the direction of Mackenzie's son who had founded
the Imperial Distillery. A merger with Talisker Distillery transpired
to form Dailuaine-Talisker Distilleries Ltd. Major fire damage
in 1917 necessitated rebuilding the Dailuaine. Another major fire
in 1959 resulted in another major reconstruction project in which
the distilling capacity was increased from four to six stills.
The land that once supported railway tracks that served the Dailuaine
Distillery complex so well and transported visitors to the area
is now preserved for hikers and is called the Speyside Way. Dailuaine
has been a component of the Johnnie Walker blended whiskies for
some time. Except for some independent bottlings, the only single
malts officially issued were limited bottlings released in 1988
or 1989.
16 year old
Proof 86
Color Deep, bronze-like amber
Nose Full. Plenty of sherry but not sweet.
Body Full. Quite smooth.
Palate Obvious sherry overtones. Some malty and nutty notes and
a hint of oak.
Finish Long and lingering and warm. Very smooth with a hint of
peat
Dallas
Dhu Distillery
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
Dallas Dhu was founded in 1899, and gets its name from the Gaelic
term "Dalais Dubh" which means, "black water valley."
It is now a museum and is under control of Scotland's Historic
Buildings and Monument Directorate. It is a worthwhile stop for
those on the way to visit nearby Dallas, Scotland, as it is an
excellent example of a small, two-stilled Highland distillery
at the beginning of the twentieth century. It was closed from
mid 1939 until 1947 after a fire destroyed the stillhouse. It
closed permanently (apparently) in 1983, and its license was cancelled
in 1992. Its much sought-after single malt is still available
from private bottlers, but the supplies are dwindling.
10 year old
Proof 80
Color Medium amber.
Nose Full with peat and slight sweetness.
Body Medium.
Palate Medium dry, malty and a hint of peat.
Finish Medium in length with a bit of smoke.
Dalmore
Region: Highlands
District: Northern
The Dalmore distillery was founded in 1839 and is located in
a beautiful setting overlooking the Black Isle and the Cromarty
Firth. The distillery resembles a country railway station, but
adopts modern production methods that currently enable the distillery
to produce about 1.2 million gallons of whisky per year. It was
taken over during World War I by the Royal Navy and its facilities
were used for assembling naval mines. It started producing whisky
again in 1922. It now has eight stills and also produces its own
maltings. Though not very well known as yet, the Dalmore single
malt is deserving of a greater following than it now has.
12 year old
Proof 80
Color Deep gold to amber.
Nose Rich, soft, fruity bouquet with sherry.
Body Medium to full, and smooth.
Palate Round, with peat, spice and heather. Some saltiness may
be detected.
Finish Long
Dalwhinnie
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
Having been built as recently as 1898, the Dalwhinnie Distillery
is comparatively quite young. Even so, it has learned very well
and very quickly because its spirit has a good following. Depending
on your information source, it is located at either the highest
or second highest elevation level of all of Scotland's distilleries.
It also serves as a meteorological observation post. During the
winter months, the distillery can be snowbound for several weeks
at a time. Dalwhinnie is located close to the entrance of Drumochter
Pass in the central Highlands. The name in Gaelic means "meeting
place". The village by this name is located at the junction
of old cattle-droving trails that come from the north and west
and lead to the central Lowlands. This crossroads community was
witness to much illicit whisky smuggling in earlier days.
15 year old
Proof 86
Color Gold
Nose Very aromatic, dry and slightly peaty.
Body Firm, smooth and slightly oily.
Palate Smooth, long-lasting flavor development. Sweetness, with
a little peat in evidence. Also, aromatic with heather and notes
of hon
Finish Quite long, but clean.
Deanston
Distillery
Region: Highlands
District: Midlands
Deanston Distillery was established in 1965-66. It occupies facilities,
however, that date back to 1785 which were utilized as textile
mills until the early 1960s. It is located about two miles from
the town of Doune, home of the Doune Castle ruins which is where
the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" was filmed.
The conversion of "Deanston Mill" to a whisky distillery
was a practical decision. The original facilities were designed
by Richard Arkwright (1732-92), inventor of the "Spinning
Jenny" and who was recognized as one of the "Fathers
of the Industrial Revolution." Its "natural air conditioning"
and excellent water supply from the Teith River, upon who's South
banks it resides, is a perfect setting for the production of excellent
whisky. Only unpeated malt is used in the production of Deanston
single malt. Any peat that the palate might detect will come from
the water supply that contains all of the necessary peat needed
according to Deanston officials.
12 year old
Proof 80
Color Pale, straw-like.
Nose Aromatic, with cereal notes. Slight sweetness.
Body Medium and smooth.
Palate Some sweetness, malt, cereals and hint of sherry.
Finish Medium in length with a hint of sweetness.
Drumguish
Distillery
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
Drumguish (pronounced "Drum-oo-ish") Distillery is
about as "new" as a distillery can be, and still have
a legal whisky to market. It produced its first spirit in 1990,
and officially opened in 1993. It just recently marketed its first
produce, a three year-old single malt by the same name. The distillery
is located where the Spey and Tromie Rivers come together on a
site near where the old Speyside Distillery was located before
being dismantled prior to World War I.
3 year old
Proof 80
Color Medium amber.
Nose Light with hints of sweetness, peat, and floral notes.
Body Medium.
Palate Initial light sweetness becoming dry. Some smoke, peat
and trace of oil.
Finish Medium in length. Dry with a hint of fruit and peat at
the end.
Edradour
Region: Highlands
District: Midland
To visit the Edradour distillery is to take a trip back in time
when the "farm distillery co-operatives" were common.
Edradour is the last such distillery in operation and dates back
about 160 years. Besides being Scotland's smallest distillery,
many claim it to be the prettiest. Only three people run the entire
operation at Edradour, whose annual total production equals about
a week's production of most Speyside distilleries. In a normal
week, Edradour will produce only 600 gallons and its total single
malt production is only 2000 cases a year. Edradour's stills are
the smallest permitted by law and, other than the reluctant conversion
to electric power in 1947, the distllery is nearly the same as
it was in 1835, when it was founded. Enjoy the product of this
most unique and proud "institution", because it is indeed
a rare treat.
10 year old
Proof 80
Color Rich gold.
Nose Light. Some sherry, fruit and spice.
Body Medium, smooth.
Palate Slightly sweet, malty, sherry and clean.
Finish Mellow, warm and some spice.
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