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Aberfeldy: The Highland distillery where Dewar heritage meets golden single malt
Aberfeldy Distillery was founded in 1896 by the brothers John Alexander and Tommy Dewar. Just two years later the first new make ran from the copper stills, and since then the distillery, under John Dewar & Sons, has delivered a golden, honey-soft malt that today is at the heart of both the Dewar's blend and Aberfeldy's own award-winning bottlings.
The history of the distillery
By the turn of the century, Dewar's was already a world-famous blend. The brothers therefore wanted a “home” for their malt, and the choice fell on Aberfeldy by the River Tay in the central Highlands. In 1972 the pair of stills was expanded to four, and in 1999 the first official 12 Year Old came onto the market. Since then the portfolio has grown with 16 and 21-year-olds as well as experimental finishes in Madeira and wine casks.
Production and craftsmanship
The source of the flavour is the Pitilie Burn, a stream that filters through granite and heather. The malted barley is mashed in a modern semi-lauter tun, fermented in traditional larch washbacks and distilled slowly in tall pot stills with swan necks. The gentle distillation gives a rich, aromatic spirit with notes of heather honey, ripe apples and a hint of cinnamon. Matured in ex-bourbon casks, it becomes the characteristic “Golden Dram”, the distillery's nickname for its single malt.
Location and surroundings
The town of Aberfeldy lies in the middle of Scotland's picturesque Perthshire, surrounded by rolling hills and deep forests. The cool, damp climate creates ideal maturation conditions, never too warm and never too cold, so the casks breathe calmly all year round. When you open the door to the warehouses, you are met by the scent of oak, vanilla and the “angels' share”.
Visits and experiences
The distillery welcomes guests all year round with guided tours that follow the grain from golden barley to golden dram. In interactive tasting sessions you can explore the honeyed house style, while the Dewar's Heritage Centre tells the story of global whisky exports from the 1800s to today. Read more on Aberfeldy Distillery's official website.
- How do you visit the distillery? Book a tour online or buy a ticket at the visitor centre; the train to Pitlochry plus a local bus takes you almost to the door.
- What characterises Aberfeldy whisky? A soft, honey-rich profile with citrus, malt and light spice, created by slow distillation and Highland water.
- When was the distillery founded? In 1896, with the first distillation in 1898.
- What types of whisky are produced? The core range of 12, 16 and 21-year-olds plus limited finishes and cask strength shop editions.
- Can you fill your own bottle? Yes, the visitor centre offers “Fill Your Own” straight from a single cask.
