Dalwhinnie Single Malt Whisky

The history of Dalwhinnie

Dalwhinnie can undoubtedly be called an old distillery. Yet, it is surprising that it took until 1897 for a whisky distillery to be built at the current location. This is not far from the railway line that connects Inverness (and Speyside) with the major cities in the south of Glasgow. That rail connection played an important role in the 19th century for the transport of whisky to the rest of Great Britain.

In Scottish Gaelic, Dalwhinnie means 'the meeting place'. The distillery is located at a point where three major roads came together. From there, the Scots brought large herds of Highland cattle to the southern market in Falkirk. These herds were also perfect for smuggling whisky. Stories circulate that small barrels were hidden under the hides of the cows. This is said to have taken place at the end of the 18th century, when whisky was often still illegally distilled.

High altitude

Dalwhinnie is the second highest distillery in Scotland. At 352 meters high, it is only surpassed by Braeval, which is just under two meters higher. Due to its high and remote location, Dalwhinnie and the nearby village of the same name are the coldest inhabited area of Great Britain. On average, it is only 6 degrees Celsius.

The early years of Dalwhinnie were difficult. The distillery therefore changed owners regularly. In 1905, it was the American company Cook & Bernheimer, making Dalwhinnie the first Scottish distillery to fall into foreign hands. Eventually, Dalwhinnie became part of the current Diageo, a large multinational.

How is Dalwhinnie made?

Dalwhinnie is a distillery that prides itself on its new make (unaged whisky) having a sulfurous character. That sulfur disappears through wood aging, but during that process, it acts as a catalyst for the plethora of delicious flavors and aromas that develop during aging in oak casks. After 15 years (the age of their most popular whisky), a wonderful whisky is created that is approachable yet complex.

At the core of the flavor of this unique whisky are the so-called worm tubs. These distinctive wooden tubs are located outside the distillery. The purpose of the worm tubs is to condense the alcohol vapors. Nowadays, more modern equipment is used, but Dalwhinnie is one of the few Scottish distilleries that still employs this old-fashioned method.

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