The Aberfeldy distillery was founded in 1896 by the sons of John Dewar. Tommy and John Alexander Dewar planned to expand and stabilize their successful blend business at that time with high quality spirits of an own distillery.
The site near the small town of Aberfeldy in the Highlands of Scotland was chosen with good reasons. On the one hand, it was in the family’s home region and the project provided a welcome attention and jobs. On the other hand, there was a good connection by rail to the next city of Perth, from where malt and fuels for the distillery could be brought in and the final goods could be shipped. And finally, with this property they could secure the rights to the small spring “Pitilie Burn”. Since then, this spring has not only provided excellent water from the Highlands for production, but it also actually contains traces of gold. This is also reflected in the label colors of shining gold on a black background.
So, with the fine single malts from Aberfeldy you have indeed a little bit of gold in your glass!
The production of the Aberfeldy distillate is characterized by an extra-long fermentation in larch wash backs and the distillation in the high pot stills, overviewing the rolling hills of Perthshire. It provides to the excellent Aberfeldy whiskies the unmistakable famous honey aromas.
After the main maturation period, the malts are combined according to the plans of the master distiller and then the finished combination is matured again in oak barrels. This “double maturation” gives them the final touch and special balance of aromas.
A visit to Aberfeldy is worthwhile not least because of the attractive interactive exhibition with a mixture of exhibits, audio-visual presentations and interactive games and challenges.
The Aberfeldy distillery property is located near to the small spa Aberfeldy in the Grampian Mountains. Even before the Dewar Sons bought it for their project, there was a distillery from 1830 to 1849, which had since been closed again.
The most important distillery architect of the time, Charles Doig, was hired for the design, to whom Aberfeldy owes the characteristic pagoda roof. The building is characterized by a logical design in which the manufacturing processes are linearly placed.
Production started in 1898. Since then it has only been temporarily closed during the First World War in the years 1917-1919. In 1972 it was renovated and equipped with the two powerful pairs of pot stills.
The ownership structure at Aberfeldy is also quite stable. In the meantime, it has once been sold to the beverage giant Diaego. But in 1998 it went back to Bacardi Ltd. – and therefore to the Dewar’s group, by which it was founded and to which it still belongs today.