Dalwhinnie distillery

Dalwhinnie Distillery stands in the Highland village of Dalwhinnie, beside Lochan-Doire-Uaine. Its water comes from the clear spring and peat from the bogs around. The site was chosen for these resources and for its mountain setting. At 326 metres above sea level it is Scotland’s highest distillery. The name Dalwhinnie comes from the Gaelic Dail Chuinnidh, meaning meeting place. Cattle drovers once met here on routes through the mountains. The distillery is owned today by Diageo. The distillery began in 1897 when John Grant, George Sellar and Alexander Mackenzie built the Strathspey Distillery. By 1905 an American firm bought it for £1,250, blending whisky in Leith for the American market. Sir James Calder later owned it, then the Distillers Company took charge in 1926. A fire closed the works in 1934 and wartime barley rules shut it again in 1940. Modern changes came in 1961 with steam heating and in 1987 it became part of United Distillers. In 1989 Dalwhinnie joined the Six Classic Malts of Scotland. Visitors find a working distillery with traditional worm tubs reinstated in 1995. The visitor centre opened in 1991 to show how whisky is made. The site sits among mountain scenery with clear water and peat still used today. Standard expressions include a 15-year-old malt and older releases up to 36 years. The distillery also produces a Distillers Edition and Winter’s Gold. The plant blends malt with other whiskies in the warehouse at Leith.