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Thursday 10 February 2011

Aberfeldy Whisky Distillery

Aberfeldy Whisky Distillery


Aberfeldy Distillery
Aberfeldy Distillery was founded in 1896 to add further production capacity to Dewar's whisky, an increasingly popular brand in Scotland and indeed throughout the World. It was built by John Dewar Jnr. the son of the founder John Dewar Snr and went into prodution in 1898.

The aim of the Aberfeldy distillery was to produce a high quality product and to do so in large quantities. Hence the need for a new distillery.

The distillery has been in continuous production since its foundation apart from during both World Wars when barley was in short supply. Production came back to full capacity by 1962. Increasing business meant further expansion of the distillery in 1972 and the exhibition centre "Dewar's World of Whisky" was opened in 2000 .

The first single malt Aberfeldy 12 yr Old was launched in 1999 and this too has been a great success. The Aberfeldy distillery seems to be going from strength to strength.

The Distillery uses only Scottish barley, yeast and water which it draws from the Pitilie Burn which runs along side and is why it is situated where it is. Malt whisky has been made in the area from this water for centuries but the Aberfeldy distillery is now the only one to make use of it.

Aberfeldy itself is a small attractive town in the Highlands, about 5 miles from Kenmore and Loch Tay. There are plenty of places to visit in the area including Kenmore bridge, Loch Tummel with the magnificent Queen's View and for the more energetic there is some fine walking. The view from the summit of nearby Schiehallion is well worth the climb.

Further afield is the busy town of Pitlochry with Scotland's smallest distillery the Edradour and further north from there on the A9 is Scotland's highest  at Dalwhinnie Distillery.

To stick with the superlatives the distillery that claims to be the "prettiest and slowest" of the Higland Malt Whisky region is the Glengoyne Distillery

The Aberfeldy Whisky distillery is well worth a visit and the excellent single malt is something to be savoured.