Dufftown (Dufftown) - WhiskySpace

Dufftown

Speyside•United Kingdom

Dufftown is a distinguished single malt Scotch whisky distillery nestled in the heart of Speyside, Scotland, within the eponymous town of Dufftown—often celebrated as the 'Whisky Capital of the World.' With a heritage spanning over a century, the distillery has become an integral part of the region's rich whisky-making tradition. Located in the epicenter of Scotland's most celebrated whisky-producing area, Dufftown crafts its spirits using time-honored methods, pure spring water from local sources, and the finest malted barley. The distillery's long-standing commitment to quality and craftsmanship has established it as a respected name among connoisseurs, producing whiskies that exemplify the elegant, fruit-forward, and complex character typical of the Speyside region.

Address:

Dufftown, Moray

Ownership:

Diageo plc

Production Capacity:

6m L.P.A.

History

The distillery was converted from a mill between 1895 and 1896. It is located outside Dufftown in the Dullan Glen. The site was selected by Peter Mackenzie and Richard Stackpole of P. Mackenzie & Company (who were also owners of Mackenzie blended whisky). Peter Mackenzie was born in Glenlivet, and his company purchased the Blair Athol distillery in 1882. The founders of the distillery were local farmer and original mill owner John Simon (whose Pittyvaich farm also supplied barley) and local solicitor John McPherson. One year after the distillery was built, Peter Mackenzie established a limited company to acquire full ownership of Dufftown-Glenlivet and other assets of Mackenzie & Company. In 1933, Mackenzie Distilleries Limited was acquired by Arthur Bell & Sons, and Dufftown-Glenlivet became a key component of Bell's Extra Special. In 1968, the distillery expanded from 2 to 4 pot stills, increased to 6 in 1974, and expanded again to 8 in 1979 (later reduced back to 6). Bell's was acquired by Guinness in 1985, which later took over D.C.L. in 1987, and Dufftown now belongs to Diageo. Dufftown is Diageo's fifth largest malt whisky distillery, with an annual production capacity of 6 million liters of pure alcohol. Since 2007, the brand has been sold in European markets as "The Singleton of Dufftown" (see also "Glendullan" and "Glen Ord").

Curiosities

While Glenfiddich was the first distillery built in Dufftown in 1886, the town now boasts six operational distilleries, earning it the moniker 'Whisky Capital of the World.' Unusually, some Dufftown distilleries feature spirit stills that are larger than their wash stills—the reverse of typical practice. The town itself was founded in 1817 by James Duff, 4th Earl of Fife, to provide employment for veterans of the Napoleonic Wars. Duff, who was made a Major-General for his service in the Peninsular War, later served as MP for Banffshire from 1818-1827. The settlement was originally named 'Balvenie' after the nearby medieval castle, but within a year was renamed Dufftown in honor of its founder.

Dufftown

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