Aultmore Distillery History

 

Aultmore means "Big Burn" in Gaelic the water source Burn of Auchinderran

Situated about three miles north of the town of Keith on the eastern fringe of Speyside.

 

The area around Aultmore has always been remote and sparsely populated, hence it was a thriving location of many smugglers’ bothies, and there existed a thriving illicit stills community. The numerous burns and the peaty springs of the Foggie Moss provided the water, and the publicans in Keith were willing customers.

 

Although not all the smugglers were men and one of the better-known operators selling ‘small-still’ whisky was a woman called Jane Milne.

 

Whisky entrepreneur Alexander Edwards also of Benrinnes, Dallas Dhu Fame, established the distillery and building commenced in 1895. Opening in 1896 the distillery went well immediately – so much so that extensions were built just two years later and production was doubled.

 

Alexander Edwards bought Oban distillery in the same year and made the two distilleries into a single limited company

 

However the Pattison crash of December 1898 was just around the corner. The crash badly affected the company, as both the Aultmore and Oban distilleries had been large suppliers of bulk whisky to Pattison.

 

Production continued at Aultmore but the period was difficult. The bankruptcy of Pattison had led to a surplus of Speyside Malt whisky on the market; Combined with prohibition in America and the 1920s depression also took their toll.

 

Finally the distillery was sold to John Dewar & Sons Ltd of Perth in 1923. Ownership then passed to Scottish Malt Distillers in 1930 as part of DCL

 

In 1971 the distillery was rebuilt and a second pair of stills was added to the original pair. Then in 1998 the distillery was sold to Bacardi, the parent company of Dewar's . Which is appropriate as the whisky has been a long time contributor to Dewar's blends.

Aultmore Distillery, Keith,

Banffshire,

AB55 3QY

Tel: +44 (0)1542 882762

 

Visitors by appointment only

Founded1895 by Alexander Edwards

Location Speyside Isla Region

Water Source Auchinderran Burn.

 

Aultmore Distilling Equipment;

 

Stainless Steel Lauter Mash Tun,

6 Siberian Larch Washbacks.

4 pot Stills

 

Matured in American Oak Bourbon Casks, refill hogsheads and sherry butts.

Aultmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Distillery Bottlings  

 

12 Aged years 43%

 

Aultmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Older Distillery Bottlings

 

21 year old 1974 Rare Malts Selection

 

Aultmore  Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Independent Bottlings 

 

Adelphi,

Cadenhead's,

Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail),

Dun Bheagan (Ian McLeod),

Duncan Taylor,

Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing),

Private Cellars (Speyside Distillers)

Provenance (Douglas Laing),

Un Chill Filtered  (Signatory).

Whisky Galore (Duncan Taylor).

 

Aultmore  Single Malt Whisky 1989

Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 40% 70cl

 

Tasting note

Colour: Amber.

 

Nose: Touch of sweetness with hints of green grass.

Palate: Smoky initially, changing to hops and spices. A sweetness slowly develops.

 

With Water

Nose:  Sweet and aromatic with scented aromas.

Palate: Sweet with grassy notes. Hints of sherry also present.

Body: Cloying.

Finish: Sweet with sherry influence.

Cask Type: Refill Sherry Casks.

Whisky Style: Subtle whisky with fresh character and rounding sweetness.

Aultmore Scotch Whisky

Distillery Style Tasting Notes

 

Nose: Clean, fresh, perfumed.

 

Palate: Crisp, delicate, fresh fruits, vanilla oak and a touch of spice.

 

Finish: Dry.