Dallas Dhu distillery

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

This whisky is rarely seen, but when it does emerge from the shadows it shows a sweet fruited edge, some honey, oiliness and a wisp of peat smoke. Dallas, incidentally, is a hamlet close to Forres.

Map
  • Region
    Speyside
  • Production type
    Single malt
  • Distillery Status
    Mothballed

Dallas Dhu History

Dallas Dhu was the last of the Speyside distilleries to be connected with that great Victorian entrepreneur Alexander Edward [see Aultmore, Craigellachie and Benromach], the site for the plant being on his estate. In 1898, he hired the legendary distillery architect Charles Doig to build the new plant and a year later it was in full production. The year after he had sold it to the blending firm Wright & Greig, whose brand was Roderick Dhu.

It passed into the hands of Benmore Distillers which became part of DCL in 1929. Wright & Greig itself followed suit and its old HQ in Glasgow would in time become the home of DCL’s engineering division.

Like many distilleries, it was silent throughout the 1930s – it also caught on fire in 1939 – and wasn’t operational again until 1947.

It was closed in 1983 and sold to Historical Scotland in 1986 who opened it as a distillery museum.

Timeline

  • 1898 Dallas Dhu is built by Alexander Edward
  • 1899 The site is sold to Wright & Greig
  • 1919 The distillery is bought by J.P.O’Brien
  • 1921 Another change of hands sees Benmore Distilleries take control
  • 1929 Benmore is bought by DCL
  • 1931 Dallas Dhu becomes a part of SMD.
  • 1930-36 The distillery falls silent for six years
  • 1939 A distillery fire forces Dallas Dhu to close once again
  • 1947 Production restarts at the distillery
  • 1983 Dallas Dhu is closed for the last time
  • 1986 The site is sold to Historic Scotland who run it as a distilling museum

Owners

Current owners

  • Historic Scotland 1986 - present (distillery)
  • Diageo 1997 - present (brand)

Previous owners

Contact

Address
Dallas Dhu Distillery
Mannachie Road
Forres
Moray
IV36 2RR
United Kingdom
Map

See also

  • Auchroisk Auchroisk Auchroisk Distillery & brand

    Auchroisk

    One of Diageo’s ‘nutty-spicy’ sites.

  • Benrinnes Benrinnes Benrinnes Distillery & brand

    Benrinnes

    A highly individual Speyside whisky.

  • Blair Athol Blair Athol Blair Athol Distillery & brand

    Blair Athol

    The home of Bell's blended whisky.

  • Caol Ila Caol Ila Caol Ila Distillery & brand

    Caol Ila

    Islay distillery belonging to Diageo.

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