Dufftown distillery information
The Dufftown distillery is located in the city from which it takes its name; Dufftown, Banffshire, in the Speyside whisky region. The distillery itself was established by Peter Mackenzie and Richard Stackpole using the name Dufftown-Glenlivet Distillery Co. in 1895, in an old mill converted to a distillery. The land the distillery was on was owned by a gentleman by the name of John Symon, who also owned the Pittyvaich farm nearby. Mackenzie and Stackpole made a deal with Stynos, and thus he became a founder as well. By 1896, the conversion of the mill into a distillery was completed, and barley from the Pittyvaich farm was put to use for making whisky. The following year, 1897, P. Mackenzie & Co. (Who also owned Blair Athol at the time) took over ownership of the distillery, who started venturing into new markets (including the USA). In 1933, Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd., blenders from Perth purchased the distillery. To this day, their Bells’ blend uses significant amounts of Dufftown’s whisky. During World War 2, the distillery was forced to close due to a shortage in Barley. That was actually the only point in time that the distillery was silent. In 1967, 2 additional stills were added, doubling the capacity. In 1979, a stainless steel Full-Lauter mash tun was installed, and 2 additional stills were fitted, thus raising the total to 6. In 1985, Arthur Bells & Sons was acquired by Guinness, who eventually shifted ownership of Dufftown to United Distillers & Vintners (UDV, nowadays Diageo).Dufftown Whiskies
97% of the whisky distilled at Dufftown is used in blends (particularly Bells). Single Malt Whisky produced at the distillery is sold under the name of Singleton of Dufftown. The Singleton is also the name used for spirit from Glendullan and Glen Ord, wand as used earlier to indicate whisky from Auchroisk, but that ceased in 2001. What’s interesting about the production process at Dufftown is that the spirit stills are bigger than the wash stills. Singleton of Dufftown currently is available in the following core range:- 12 Year Old; matured mostly in European oak
- Tailfire; matured in European ex-Sherry casks
- Sunray; matured in American Bourbon casks
- 15 Year Old; matured in American and European oak
- 18 Year Old
Distillery info:
Detail |
Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Dufftown |
| Region | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland |
| Logo |  |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1895 |
| Water source | Jock's Well |
| Malting floor | No |
| Owned by | Diageo |
| Address | Dufftown Glenlivet Distiller Dufftown Keith, Banffshire AB55 4BR United Kingdom +44 (0) 1340 820224 |
| Visitor centre | No |
| Website | http://www.malts.com/index.php/en_gb/Our-Whiskies/The-Singleton-of-Dufftown/Introduction |
| Map |
Distillery Setup:
Component |
Capacity |
Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Mash tun | 13 tonnes | 1 (Stainless Steel, Full Lauter) |
| Washback | 53,000 litres | 12 (Stainless Steel) |
| Wash still | 13,000 litres | 3 |
| Spirit Still | 15,000 litres | 3 |
| Expected yearly output in LPA (Litres of pure alcohol) | 5,800,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dufftown distillery was established in 1895 by Peter Mackenzie and Richard Stackpole, under the name Dufftown-Glenlivet Distillery Co., converting an old mill in the town of Dufftown, Banffshire, in the Speyside region. The land belonged to John Symon, who also owned the nearby Pittyvaich farm, and Symon became a founder too after making a deal with Mackenzie and Stackpole. The mill’s conversion finished in 1896, and barley from Pittyvaich farm was used for the whisky.
In 1897, P. Mackenzie & Co, who also owned Blair Athol at the time, took over ownership of Dufftown and began expanding into new markets, including the USA.
Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd, blenders from Perth, purchased the distillery in 1933, and Bell’s blend still uses significant amounts of Dufftown’s whisky to this day.
Only once. During the Second World War, the distillery was forced to close due to a barley shortage, the only period the distillery has ever gone silent. Capacity was doubled in 1967 with two additional stills, and a stainless steel Full-Lauter mash tun was installed in 1979 alongside two more stills, bringing the total to six.
Arthur Bell & Sons was acquired by Guinness in 1985, who eventually shifted ownership of Dufftown to United Distillers & Vintners (UDV), now known as Diageo.
Unlike most distilleries, Dufftown’s spirit stills are actually bigger than its wash stills.
About 97% of the whisky distilled at Dufftown goes into blends, particularly Bell’s. The distillery’s single malt is sold as The Singleton of Dufftown, with The Singleton name also used for spirit from Glendullan and Glen Ord, and previously for whisky from Auchroisk until that use ended in 2001.
The core range includes a 12 Year Old, matured mostly in European oak; Tailfire, matured in European ex-Sherry casks; Sunray, matured in American Bourbon casks; a 15 Year Old, matured in American and European oak; and an 18 Year Old.
No, Dufftown does not have a visitor centre.