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Dalwhinnie (Dalvini) is a brand of Scotch whiskey, popular not only in its homeland, but also in the United States. Since the distillery is located on the border of two regions – Highland and Speyside, disputes about the style of this brand do not subside among experts. In the taste of drinks, shades of heather honey and peat smoke stand out. The company belongs to the multinational company Diageo, one of the world’s largest producers and distributors of alcohol.
Historical information
The Dalwhinnie plant is located in the highlands of Scotland at an altitude of 355 m above sea level. The distillery was founded in 1897 by three local businessmen who gave it the name Strathspey. The ideal place for the construction was chosen – there are mountain lakes with melted glacial water nearby, and two large railway lines converged in the village itself, which solved the issue of delivery.
The start of production was unsuccessful – the company lasted only a year and was sold to a new owner, who renamed it Dalwhinnie. In 1905, the plant became the property of the large American holding company Cook & Bernbeimer. Whiskey began to be used in blends that met the tastes of buyers from the United States. In 1919, in connection with the introduction of Prohibition, the company returned to the hands of the Scots – the distillery was acquired by Macdonald Greenless.
In 1934, a fire broke out at the plant, destroying most of the buildings. The construction of the new production complex took four years. In the future, the company had to go through difficult times – the production of whiskey had to be stopped more than once. The rise began in 1987, when the distillery became part of United Distillers, which carried out a global modernization of production.
The brand became widely known in 1989, when 15-year-old Dalwhinnie was included in a set of six classic Scottish whiskeys. In 1992 the workshops of the plant underwent a complete reconstruction. Over the next decades, the products of the distillery received many gold awards at reputable competitions and were repeatedly recognized as the best in their class.
Production features
Like many Scottish distilleries, Dalwhinnie abandoned its own malt production in the late 60s and purchases it from leading UK suppliers. The water comes from the Allt a T’Sluic mountain spring, a tributary of the Spey River.
The largest vat with a conical lid is made of stainless steel. There is a window in the wall through which visitors can observe the fermentation process. In a separate room there are six more fermentation tanks made of Siberian larch and Oregon pine.
Distillation takes place in traditionally shaped copper cubes with an elongated neck. The largest is designed for 17 thousand liters of wort. About 5 thousand barrels are stored in warehouses at the same time. The company prefers bourbon containers, some batches are aged in sherry casks. The distillery produces 1,3 million liters of whiskey annually.
Awards
The brand has won gold medals in competitions:
- San Francisco World Spirits Competition, San Francisco – 2006, 2007, 2016;
- The Spirits Business, Лондон – 2007, 2010, 2011, 2015;
- International Wine & Spirit Competition, Лондон – 2008, 2015.
Interesting Facts
The plant is located at a high altitude and, according to this indicator, ranks second in the country. The company operates a meteorological station, where weather reports are compiled daily.
The Dalwhinnie distillery is open to the public. In 2015, the distillery received five stars from TripAdvisor as one of the best alcohol tourism destinations in Scotland.
Types of whiskey Dalvini
Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition, 43%
Aged in Oloroso sherry casks, which add grape notes to heather honey and peat aromas. The color of the drink is pale amber. At the start there are wine tones mixed with smoke, towards the end shades of pineapple, lemon, ginger and vanilla enter. The finish is very rich and dry.
Dalwhinnie Winters Gold, 43%
Polished gold whiskey, characteristic of the Scottish highlands. The aroma is dominated by candied fruit. The palate is buttery and balanced, with hints of gingerbread, malt, molasses and mint flavored with soft smoke. The finish is dominated by raisins, prunes and dark chocolate.
Dalwhinnie 15 years old, 43%
The company’s flagship product is part of a set of six classic Scottish whiskeys. The drink is golden in color with the aroma of heather and smoke. The taste is dominated by vanilla and honey, mixed with hints of malt and citrus. The finish is long, with smoky and grainy tones.
