Whisky Story

Schlumberger, I guess because it's Aberdeen based, always takes the Aberdeen local holidays, even the Don's work that is based out here in the Shire.  This means that the fourth Monday of every September the Don and I get a day together.  Of course we had a day 'together' on Friday because he was off work unwell...  and today I think only half counted as he is still unwell.

Anyway, we lazily decided to head into the Big Smoke to finally watch the new Mission Impossible film that we never managed to catch over the summer.  Except, and I'm assuming it's because it's a Monday holiday, it wasn't on at 11am.  It was yesterday, and is tomorrow, but today it seems to have been replaced with every other vaguely-kid-friendly movie out at the moment.

So onto Plan B, which actually was our original Plan A before the Don came up with Plan B: Dallas Dhu Distillery.  It wasn't a place we'd ever probably visit with the kids, but a place I feel like I've passed a fair few times in the last few years and never popped in to, and being Historic Scotland a nice free day out (if you don't count the 3 hours of petrol we used getting there and back).

Originally name "Dallasmore", the distillery was built in 1898 by Alexander Edward of the Sanquhar estate outside of Forres. When ownership of the distillery changed to Wright & Greig Ltd in 1899 it was renamed "Dallas Dhu", meaning "black bog" or "water valley" (and the grounds around the distillery are still very soft and boggy) and provided a quality base malt whisky for their very popular blend Roderick Dhu.  Hence the name change.  Production began on 29 May 1899 and the first cask was filled on 3 June.

Propoganda roof designed by Scottish Architect Charles C. Doig

Starting in 1909, David Lloyd George introduced restrictions on distilling in the United Kingdom, including increased taxes and the requirement that all whisky sold had been aged for at least three years.  In 1919, the distillery was sold to J.P. O'Brian & Co. and then again to Benmore Distilleries Ltd in 1921 where the Dallas Dhu malt whisky was used in the Benmore blended whisky.  Even until the 1950s most equipment was powered by steam engines and a large water wheel, until the Benmore owners installed new equipment, including electric lighting and mechanised switches for the wash backs.

Malt barns

Mash house

Tun room

Still

Spirit Store

The distillery as of 1898

Economic pressure and an unreliable water supply forced Dallas Dhu to close in 1983, and its distilling license was withdrawn in 1992.  The last barrel was filled on 16 March 1983, and in 1988 the buildings were re-opened to the public, with Historic Scotland taking over operations in 1992. The distillery complex itself is a scheduled monument and a Category A listed building and the only historic distillery in the country.

Since I was driving and the Don was starting to fee rough again, neither of us even managed to enjoy the dram of Roderick Dhu at the end of the tour, but it was still fine to get away for the lovely sunny day.