Dailuaine distillery information
The Dailuaine (dale-YOU-an) distillery was built in the center of the Speyside region, between Ben Rinnes and the river Spey in 1852 by William Mackenzie, a farmer. It takes its name from Gaelic: ‘An dail uaine’ (or “green valley”). When Mackenzie passed in 1865, he left the distillery to his wife Jane. She leased it to James Flemming, a banker from Aberlour (who would later on establish the Aberlour distillery in 1879). In 1879, Jane’s son Thomas took over the business, and established “Mackenzie & Company” which ran the distillery, and represented a cooperation between him and Flemming.
Between 1884 and 1887, the distillery was rebuilt and expanded into one of the largest distilleries of the Highlands at the time. In 1889, Dailuaine became the first Scottish distillery to equip its kiln with a pagoda-style roof, designed by Charles Doig. In 1890, Mackenzie & Co. converted into the Dailuaine-Glenlivet Distillery Ltd., which merged with Talisker in 1898 to form Dailuaine-Talisker Distilleries Co. Ltd. In 1915, Thomas Mackenzie died, and the distillery was sold to John Dewar & Sons, John Walker & Sons and James Buchanan & Co. operating under the name of Distillers Company Ltd (DCL) in 1916. The running of the distillery was left do DCL subsidiary Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd (SMD).
In 1917, a fire destroyed large parts of the distillery, including the above-mentioned pagoda-roof. The distillery closed as a result, but rebuilt and reopened in 1920. Another fire raged through the distillery in 1959, leading to another rebuilding, during which the distillery expanded from four to six stills, and the malting floor was replaced with a Saladin Box. Dailuaine reopened in 1960. In 1964, the stills switched from direct to indirect steam heating. In 1983, the Saladin box was closed.
From 1987 on, Daukuaine was run by United Distillers. In 1998, United Distillers (part of the Guinness group) merges with International Distillers and Vintners to form Diageo. The distillery currently also houses a bio- plant, meant to convert whisky-making byproducts into cattle feed, as well as a plant intended to treat waste water.
Dailuaine Whiskies
Most whisky produced at Dailuaine finds its way into the Johnnie Walker blends. There have been very few official bottlings released, but the ones we could track are:
- 16 Year Old Flora and Fauna release (1991)
- 17 Year old “Managers Dram” (2000)
Distillery info:
Detail |
Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Dailuaine |
| Region | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland |
| Logo |  |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1852 |
| Water source | Bailliemullich Burn |
| Malting floor | Yes |
| Owned by | Diageo |
| Address |
Dailuaine Distillery |
| Visitor centre | No |
| Map |
Distillery Setup:
Component |
Capacity |
Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Mash tun | 11.5 tonnes | 1 (Full lauter) |
| Washback | 55,000 litres | 8 (Scottish larch) |
| Wash still | 32,000 litres | 3 |
| Spirit Still | 32,000 litres | 3 |
| Expected yearly output in LPA (Litres of pure alcohol) | 3,300,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dailuaine is pronounced “dale-YOU-an” and comes from the Gaelic “An dail uaine”, meaning “green valley”. It was built in 1852 by farmer William Mackenzie between Ben Rinnes and the River Spey, in the heart of the Speyside region.
When William Mackenzie died in 1865, he left the distillery to his wife Jane, who leased it to James Flemming, a banker from Aberlour who would later establish the Aberlour distillery in 1879. That same year, Jane’s son Thomas took over the business and formed Mackenzie & Company, a partnership between himself and Flemming.
Yes. Between 1884 and 1887, Dailuaine was rebuilt and expanded into one of the largest distilleries in the Highlands at the time. In 1889, it became the first Scottish distillery to fit its kiln with a pagoda-style roof, designed by Charles Doig.
Mackenzie & Co converted into the Dailuaine-Glenlivet Distillery Ltd in 1890, which merged with Talisker in 1898 to form Dailuaine-Talisker Distilleries Co. Ltd. When Thomas Mackenzie died in 1915, the distillery was sold the following year to John Dewar & Sons, John Walker & Sons and James Buchanan & Co, operating together as Distillers Company Ltd (DCL), who left day-to-day running to subsidiary Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd (SMD).
Yes, twice. A fire in 1917 destroyed large parts of the distillery, including its original pagoda roof, forcing a closure until it was rebuilt and reopened in 1920. Another fire struck in 1959, prompting a further rebuild that expanded the distillery from four to six stills and replaced the malting floor with a Saladin Box; Dailuaine reopened in 1960. The stills switched from direct to indirect steam heating in 1964, and the Saladin box was closed in 1983.
United Distillers took over running Dailuaine from 1987, and in 1998 United Distillers, part of the Guinness group, merged with International Distillers and Vintners to form Diageo, the current owner. The distillery today also houses a bio-plant that converts whisky-making byproducts into cattle feed, along with a waste-water treatment plant.
Most whisky produced at Dailuaine goes into Johnnie Walker blends. Very few official bottlings have been released, with a 16 Year Old Flora and Fauna release in 1991 and a 17 Year Old “Manager’s Dram” in 2000 among the ones on record.
No, Dailuaine does not have a visitor centre.