Dallas Dhu

Dallas Dhu is a closed distillery in Scotland, the home of Scotch whisky. It stands two miles south of the village of Forres in the famous Speyside region. The distillery was established in the year 1899 and closed in 1983. 

Dallas Dhu is open to the public as a museum of distilling.

The distillery produced a malty, fruity spirit. Single malt bottlings are fruit-forward with honey and toffee notes. It is often described as oily with a wisp of peat smoke.

Dallas Dhu was built to supply spirit for the Roderick Dhu blended Scotch brand. There was no official single malt bottling throughout its entire lifespan. However, some were released by independent bottlers like Gordon & MacPhail (G&D). The 1969 bottling was released in G&D 2019 Summer Collection as one of the two oldest ever lost whiskies.

The distillery had a single pair of coal-fired pot stills until 1971 when they were converted to steam heating.

The worm tubs were removed in 1956, to be replaced with modern shell and tube condensers.

Use of the malting floor ceased in 1968. From then until closure, malt was brought in from an industrial maltster.

Most of the Dallas Dhu spirit matured in ex-bourbon casks, though some single malt bottlings came from ex-sherry casks.

Though the distillery closed in 1983, limited stocks of aged spirit remain. Single malt bottlings still come to market occasionally.

The old distillery is perfectly preserved. All the equipment remains in place and could start producing at any moment if required. Talk and rumour have hinted at a return to production but nothing concrete has yet emerged.

The distillery was the brainchild of Scottish entrepreneur Alexander Edward. Working with architect Charles Doig, Edward designed the plant, then sold the plans to Glasgow blenders Wright & Greig Ltd. Originally dubbed Dallasmore, the new owners renamed it Dallas Dhu.

The plot of land chosen was extremely boggy. The completed walls of the malt barn started to sink and had to be strengthened with ties that can still be seen today. The additional work caused lengthy delays and distillation didn’t commence until 1899.

Wright & Greig owned the highly successful Roderick Dhu blended Scotch. The brand was named after a character in Sir Walter Scott’s “The Lady of the Lake”. Much of the spirit produced at Dallas Dhu went into the blend.

Wright & Greig sold to J. P. O’Brien in 1919. From there the distillery passed to a consortium of brewers operating as Benmore Distilleries Ltd. However, by 1929, it had been absorbed by the ever-expanding DCL.

Hard times saw the distillery closed in 1930. Production resumed for a time but stopped again when a devastating fire caused £7,000 worth of damage in 1939. The site was rebuilt but a return to production was hampered by the Second World War. All remained silent until distillation returned in 1947.

Dallas Dhu was modernised in the 1950s. Both steam engine and water wheel were removed to be replaced by electric power.

In the 1980s, over-production throughout the industry led to excess stocks that became known as the whisky loch. DCL had to make cuts and Dallas Dhu was one of many to close its doors. The last cask was filled on the 16^th of March 1983.

In 1986, the distillery was donated to Historic Environment Scotland. It has since been preserved as a living museum of distilling. Visitors can take a self-guided tour that chronicles the history of Dallas Dhu and Speyside whisky.