Production
commences at the new Dalmunach Speyside
Distillery.
Chivas Brothers has completed the
construction of its new Speyside malt
whisky distillery, the new Dalmunach
Distillery which will have a massive 10
million litre capacity was constructed
on the site of the now demolished
Imperial Distillery. Whisky fans had
wondered if the new distillery would
carry the Imperial name, today that
question has been answered, it looks
like Imperial has gone forever so if you
have any bottlings of Imperial whisky in
the back of your whisky cabinet they
just might have accumulated a little
more value today.
The new Dalmunach distillery has been
built by Chivas Brothers to meet the
long term growth prospects in the face
of increased global demand for Scotch
whisky. Production at the new distillery
will commence this month.
Dalmunach has been constructed using the
latest innovations and environmental
expertise such as heat recovery
technology, the distillery is capable of
producing up to 10 million litres of
high quality Speyside style spirit per
year to support the growing global
demand for the bestselling blended
whisky brands within Chivas Brothers’
portfolio, which includes Chivas Regal,
Ballantine’s and Royal Salute.
The new Dalmunach distillery, Chivas
Brothers’ 14th operating malt whisky
distillery, takes its name from a nearby
pool in the River Spey on whose banks
the distillery sits. The distillery has
already had a positive impact on the
local economy with companies from the
Speyside area heavily involved in the
construction, while an additional eight
permanent employees have joined the
Chivas Brothers production team.
Every element of the distillery design,
including the unique still shapes, has
been geared to producing the very
highest quality Speyside malt whisky
with a rich, fruity character, a vital
ingredient to the highest quality
blended Scotch whiskies.
Laurent Lacassagne, Chairman and CEO of
Chivas Brothers, comments: "As global
demand for Scotch whisky increases year
on year, our confidence in the long-term
growth prospects for the category
remains strong. The construction of the
new Dalmunach distillery is a clear
demonstration of our confidence and also
of our commitment to invest to meet the
significant growth potential.
"With their reputation for crafted
excellence, our blended whiskies form a
key part of the Chivas Brothers
portfolio in both emerging economies and
mature markets, so we believe the
increased capacity which the new
distillery will provide will help to
drive the business forward in the years
to come."
The distillery architecture has been
inspired by the shape of a sheaf of
barley reflecting the core ingredient of
single malt whisky. It houses eight
unique copper pot stills, with a tulip
shape used for the wash stills and an
onion shape used for the spirit stills,
replicating those from the Imperial
distillery which was situated on the
site until 2012. In a departure from
distillery traditions, the stills have
been positioned in a circular design
that provides a unique aesthetic for the
future.
Other original features from the
previous Imperial distillery have been
carefully incorporated to ensure a sense
of heritage remains intact. Red brick
from the original mill building has been
reclaimed to create a feature wall in
the new entrance area, and wood from the
original washbacks has been used to form
an entrance ‘drum’ and adorn the gable
walls of the new tun room which contains
16 new stainless steel washbacks. A new
9.5m diameter mashtun has been installed
which draws spring water for production
from the site’s original distilling
water sources.
Situated on the banks of the River Spey,
sadly the Dalmunach distillery will not
be open to visitors but will be visible
from the nearby Speyside Way walking
trail. Great care has been taken to
ensure the external façade of the
distillery is in-keeping with its
surrounding environment and the
traditional architectural style of the
region, thus providing an interesting
and fitting new viewpoint for
passers-by.
The construction of the distillery was
managed from start to finish by Douglas
Cruickshank, who stepped back from his
role as Chivas Brothers’ Production
Director last year to concentrate on the
new build. The project is a fitting end
to Cruickshank’s career prior to
retirement which began at the age of 15
at the Imperial Distillery and has now
come full circle as he restores
distilling to the same location after a
16 year slumber.
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