Deanston distillery

Deanston distillery stands beside the River Teith, eight miles from Stirling and close to the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. It began in 1785 as Adelphi Mill, a cotton mill designed by Sir Richard Arkwright. After 180 years as a mill, it became a whisky distillery in 1966. The site’s pure water and later hydro-electric power made it ideal for whisky making. Deanston is the only Scottish distillery fully self-sufficient in electricity, using an on-site hydro plant. Ten local craftsmen hand-make the single malt, which is bottled at 46.3% ABV without chill-filtering or added colour. Visitors see the vast vaulted warehouse, once the weaving shed, now used for maturing whisky. Original water wheels, including the giant Hercules at 36 ft 6 in, are shown in films at the distillery. The neighbouring Deanston village, built in the 1810s, still has its listed cottages, school and weir, all cared for by the distillery today.