Dalmore
Whyte & Mackay's Highlands distillery.
Tamnavulin
Distillery & brand
In the 19th century, the term ‘Glenlivet’ was used to describe the whiskies of what we now know as Speyside. Its ubiquity also resulted in distilleries appending the name to their own. The irony of this is that until 1965 there was only one distillery in the glen of the River Livet - The Glenlivet. Tamnavulin was the second.
Tamnavulin distillery
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
This is a large plant whose sign rather baldly states ‘NO VISITORS’ rather than ‘WELCOME’. This is not unfriendliness, simply a manifestation of the reality of the whisky business. In fact, there used to be a visitor facility nearby. The majority of distilleries are there to make spirit for blends, not to entertain tourists.
Its half dozen stills are large, the fermentation short and the make is light and cereal accented.
Tamnavulin History
Tamnavulin was one of the distilleries built in the whisky boom of the early 1960s when demand was so far outstripping supply that new facilities had to be constructed. It was built by Invergordon Distillers (whose portfolio also included a grain distillery, Bruichladdich, Tullibardine and Jura). It had six stills and, for a period, Saladin maltings.
Invergordon was in turn bought by Whyte & Mackay. In 1995, with the whisky market in steady decline, it was mothballed, only reopening in 2007 when Whyte & Mackay was purchased by Indian giant United Spirits. Its function as a supplier of fillings however hasn’t altered. It changed hands once again in 2014 when Whyte & Mackay was sold to Philippine-based Emperador.
Timeline
- 1966 Tamnavulin-Glenlivet Distillery Co, a subsidiary of Invergordon Distillers, builds Tamnavulin in Ballindalloch
- 1993 Whyte & Mackay purchases Invergordon Distillers
- 1995 Tamnavulin's new owner closes the distillery
- 2000 The distillery performs a short run but is mothballed again
- 2007 Whyte & Mackay is bought out by Indian group United Spirits, which reopens Tamnavulin
- 2014 The group is purchased by Philippines-based group Emperador
Tamnavulin Facts
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- Capacity (mlpa) i
- 4.2
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- Condenser Type i
- Shell and tube
-
- Fermentation Time i
- Minimum 48hrs
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- Filling Strength i
- 63.5%
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- Grist Weight (t) i
- 10.72
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- Heat Source i
- Steam
-
- Malt Specification i
- Some heavily peated at 55ppm
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- Malt Supplier i
- Various
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- Mash Tun Type i
- Lauter
-
- New-make Strength i
- 69%
-
- Spirit Still Charge (l) i
- 15,000
-
- Spirit Still Shape i
- Lampglass
-
- Stills i
- 6
-
- Warehousing i
- 39,000 casks all racked
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- Wash Still Charge (l) i
- 17,500
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- Wash Still Shape i
- Lampglass
-
- Water Source i
- Various springs
-
- Wort Clarity i
- Slightly cloudy
-
- Yeast Type i
- Various
Owners
Parent company
- Emperador Distillers Inc 2014 - present
Current owner
- Whyte and Mackay Group 1993 - present
Previous owner
- Invergordon Distillers 1966 - 1993
Contact
- Address
-
Tamnavulin Distillery
Tomnavoulin
Moray
AB37 9JA
United Kingdom - Phone
- +44 1479 818031
- Visitor Opening Hours
- Not open to the public
Map
See also
-
Distillery & brand