Craigellachie distillery

57°29′19″N 03°11′05″W / 57.48861°N 3.18472°W / 57.48861; -3.18472

Craigellachie distillery
Region: Speyside
LocationCraigellachie, Moray, Banffshire
OwnerJohn Dewar & Sons
(Bacardi)
Founded1891
StatusOperational
Water sourceLocal
No. of stills2 wash stills
2 spirit stills
Capacity4,000,000 litres of alcohol per annum
Craigellachie
TypeSingle malt
ABV43%

Craigellachie distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in the village of Craigellachie at the centre of the Speyside whisky producing area of Scotland. The name Craigellachie means 'rocky hill' and refers to the cliff that overlooks the Spey across from The Macallan distillery.

John Dewar & Sons, Ltd operates the distillery. Dewar's also controls Royal Brackla, Aberfeldy, Aultmore, and Macduff.

History

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The Craigellachie distillery was built in 1891 by Craigellachie Distillery Co. Limited, a group of blenders and merchants led by Alexander Edward. Two years later, it was incorporated as a limited company and in 1896 it was reconstructed as Craigellachie-Glenlivet Distillery Ltd.[1]

During the years that followed, ownership passed to Peter Mackie (in 1916), the Distillery Company Limited (in 1927) and SMD (in 1930). The transfer to SMD marked the beginning of a period of stability for Craigellachie; apart from a reconstruction in 1964-65 during which the number of pot stills was doubled, relatively little happened at the distillery.[1]

In 1998, it was sold to John Dewar & Sons.[2]

In March 1998, Diageo sold John Dewar & Sons to Bacardi.[3]

In 2014, a 13-year-old, 17-year-old, a travel retail exclusive 19-year-old, and a limited 23-year-old were released as part of the Dewar & Sons' Last Great Malts of Scotland.[4] From 2023 the core range consists of the 13-year-old, a 13-year-old finished in Bas Armagnac-casks, a 17-year-old and the 23-year-old.[5]

During its history, the distillery has released only a handful of official bottlings. The distillery's product is currently primarily used for Dewar's blended whisky.[6]

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  • "Craigellachie Distillery information". Archived from the original on 7 February 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  • "John Dewar & Sons Launches "Last Great Malts" Collection".

References

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  1. ^ a b Kindersley, Dorling (2008). Whisky. Dorling Kindersley Limited.
  2. ^ "Craigellachie - the whisky and the distillery". Whisky and Wisdom. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  3. ^ "INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS; Diageo Sells Dewar's And Bombay to Bacardi". The New York Times. Associated Press. 31 March 1998. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Craigellachie". World Wine & Whisky. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Craigellachie". Cragiellachie Distillery. 1 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Craigellachie". The Whiskyphiles. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2023.