Macduff

SCOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKIES > M

MACDUFF

15 years old

40%
CONNOISSEURS CHOICE
Distilled 1975
Bottled 1990
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

MACDUFF

17 years old

43 %
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY SELECTION
Distilled 25.8.78
Cask No. 4159
Bottled 4.96
382 bottles
Van Wees, Amersfoort

MACDUFF

32 years old

50%
THE OLD MALT CASK 50o
Single Cask Bottling
Distilled June 1967
Bottled October 1999
147 bottles
No Chill Filtration
No Colouring
Douglas Laing & Co, Ltd, Glasgow

MACDUFF

31 years old

50%
THE OLD MALT CASK 50o
Single Cask Bottling
Distilled January 1969
Bottled July 2000
192 bottles
No Chill Filtration
No Colouring
Douglas Laing & Co, Glasgow

MACDUFF

Aged 36 years

59,4 %
CASK STRENGHT RARE AULD
SCOTCH WHISKY
SHERRY CASK
Unique Whiskies of Distinction
Fons et Origo
D T C
Region: Highland Scotch Whisky
Date distilled 04.1969
Cask no. 3684
Date bottled 02.2006
135 Numbered Bottles
Non Chill Filtering or Colourings of any kind
Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd, Huntly, Aberdeenshire

MACDUFF

Aged 38 years

46,9 %
CASK STRENGHT RARE AULD
SCOTCH WHISKY
Unique Whiskies of Distinction
Fons et Origo
D T C
Region: Highland Scotch Whisky
Date distilled 11.1968
Cask no. 8546
Date bottled 04.2007
187 Numbered Bottles
Non Chill Filtering or Colourings of any kind
Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd, Huntly, Abredeenshire

MACDUFF

Aged 38 years

40,3 %
CASK STRENGHT LONACH
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled 1969
Bottled 2008
The Lonach Whisky Company,
Huntly, Aberdeenshire

The Lonach Gathering in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire celebrates one of Scotland’s oldest and longest running gatherings of Highland Clansmen in the last weekend of August

MACDUFF

VINTAGE 19 6 9

Aged 41 years

40,9 %

Highland

DUNCAN TAYLOR

PEERLESS SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

CASK STRENGHT SINGLE MALT

Unique Whiskies of Distinction

Fons et Origo

Est. 1938

Distilled 22.0.4.69

Cask no. 3674

Bottled 19.10.10

Bottled in his natural state

Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd, Huntly

Aberdeenshire.

MACDUFF
VINTAGE 1 9 6 8
Aged 40 years

48.4 %
Highland
DUNCAN TAYLOR
PEERLESS SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
CASK STRENGHT SINGLE MALT
Unique Whiskies of Distinction
Fons et Origo
Est. 1938
Distilled 25.11.68
Cask no. 8548
Bottled 28.11.08
178 Numbered Bottles
Bottled in his natural state
Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd, Huntly,
Aberdeenshire

The Eastern Highlands
MACDUFF also see Glen Deveron, The Deveron
Banff, Banffshire. Licentiehouder: William Lawson Distillers Ltd. Eigendom van Bacardi - Martini.

Macduff werd gebouwd in 1962 door Brodie Hepburn Ltd en Block, Grey & Block Ltd.
William Lawson vestigde zich in 1849 als whiskyhandelaar en blender, maar zijn onderneming werd nooit een groot succes en leed jarenlang een kwijnend bestaan.
Na de tweede wereldoorlog werd de firma nieuw leven ingeblazen en in 1967 verhuisde William Lawson Ltd van Liverpool naar Coatbridge waar een bottel- en blending fabriek werd gebouwd.
In 1972 werd de Macduff distilleerderij gekocht.
In 1980 werd William Lawson Ltd aangekocht door Martini & Rossi.
Macduff ligt bij de stad Banff aan de rivier de Deveron. Door de eigenaren wordt deze single malt whisky in de handel gebracht onder de naam Glen Deveron, door handelaren onder de naam Macduff.
De Mash tun is groot 6 ton. De negen Wash backs hebben elk een inhoud van 32000 liter.
Macduff heeft vijf ketels, twee Wash stills van elk 20000 liter en drie Spirit stills van elk 12500 liter.
De ketels worden met stoom verhit
De capaciteit is 2.000.000 liter spirit per jaar.

THE OLD MALT CASK 50o
Douglas Laing & Co, Ltd
Douglas House 18, Lynedoch Crescent, Glasgow
In 1949 Fred Douglas Laing established Douglas Laing & Co primarily as a blender and bottler for his Scotch Whisky blends The King of Scots and House of Peers, which are available today internationally.
Large stocks and reserves of aging Malts in particular, were laid down by Mr. Laing, many being guarded for 25 - 30 years specifically for the older blends such as the 25 and 30 Year Old KING OF SCOTS.
With more than 50 different Malts in stock, over the last 50 years from filling programme, it was obvious that the Malt Master would have certain favourites. These have variously been chalked off the times of regular quality control, as being of particular qualitative interest; both commercially, and for the pleasure of the Directors. It has been their particular perk, benefit and privelege to nose and taste some of the finest quality samples indicative of the Distillers's art.
It was judged by the two current owners/directors (sons of the founder, so nepotism is not dead!) that some of these stocks were 'too good to blend'. And so the OLD MALT CASK selection was developed in 1999 to extend those perks and benefits beyond the Director's tasting suite!
Initially it was felt that 50 different Malts commemorating the Company's 50th Anniversary would be approciate. That tally has now been exeeded but our preferred strenght of 50 X ale/vol is maintained. We believe this strenght creates a fine, round, full quality for various Malts when taken 'neat'. It also allows the regular consumer to know precisely how much or little water should be added to this artisan and craftman's distillate.
These selected Malt Whiskies have waited many years to reach their classic heights of qua-lity. Not only with your health in mind, but with a view to greater enjoyment, may we suggest that in the style of the founder, whose signature endorses your Malt, you enjoy its glass leisurely and slowly.
Douglas Laing.

Macduff distillery has a classic, clean and functional Delme-Evans design, with the stillhouse being the most intriguing part of the engineering.

In here are five stills – two wash and three spirit – all of which have upward-tilting lyne arms that have a right angled kink in them. The spirit stills also have horizontal shell and tube condensers. The character is nutty (slightly sulphury at new make stage), with quick mashing, short fermentation and cold condensers. It is this last technique which adds weight to the spirit. It could well be that the kink in the lyne arm helps create just enough reflux to contribute a balancing fruitiness.

A modern distillery, Macduff (whose whisky is bottled by its owner as either Glen Deveron or The Deveron; Macduff is only used by independent bottlers) was built in 1960 to tap into the post-War whisky boom. The group of Glasgow brokers who were the original owners included Brodie Hepburn [see Tullibardine, Deanston] and it was through them, one imagines, that William Delme-Evans was chosen as architect. Brokers Block, Grey & Block were in charge between 1966 and 1972 when it became part of William Lawson, the whisky arm of Martini & Rossi.

The distillery had been slowly expanding in terms of production throughout its life and its Italian owner upped the number of stills to five in 1990. By then a range of single malts had been released, all under the name Glen Deveron.

In keeping with the Italian market’s love of young fresh malts, a 5- and 8-year-old were early members of the range. Two years later, Martini merged with Bacardi and in 1995 Macduff became part of the Dewar’s stable.

In recent years, the William Lawson blend has become a huge seller in Russia, but that hasn’t stopped Dewar’s plans to relaunch the single malt as Deveron.

1960

Glasgow brokers Brodie Hepburn,

Marty Dyke and George Crawford found

Macduff

1963

Production officially begins at Macduff

1965

Macduff's stills are increased from two

to three; two years later a fourth still is

installed

1972

William Lawson, the whisky arm of

Martini & Rossi, buys the distillery

1990

Macduff's fifth still is installed

1993

Bacardi purchases Martini, and

Macduff becomes part of the Dewar's

portfolio

2013

The Macduff Royal Burgh Collection

is launched in duty free

2015

A new range is launched:

10,12,18 years old

2020

Capacity: 3.500.000 Ltrs

Output: 3,25 ooo.ooo Ltrs

CAPACITY (MLPA) i

CONDENSER TYPE i

Shell and tube

FERMENTATION TIME i

68hrs

GRIST WEIGHT (T) i

12.5

HEAT SOURCE i

HFO boiler providing heat to stainless elements

MALT SPECIFICATION i

Plain malt, 0ppm

MALT SUPPLIER i

Bairds

MASH TUN TYPE i

Lauter

NEW-MAKE STRENGTH i

70%

SPIRIT STILL CHARGE (L) i

23,000

SPIRIT STILL SHAPE i

Tall with rising lye pipe

STILLS i

WAREHOUSING i

Westhorn/Poniel

WASH STILL CHARGE (L) i

20,000

WASH STILL SHAPE i

Tall with rising lye pipe

WASHBACK SIZE (L) i

60,000

WASHBACK TYPE i

6 wood, 2 stainless steel

WASHBACKS i

WATER SOURCE i

Natural spring and field drain -

process. Burn and field drain - cooling

WORT CLARITY i

Clear

YEAST TYPE i

Kerry MS1

OWNER

Bacardi

1993 - present

John Dewar & Sons

General Beverage Corporation

1980 - 1993

William Lawson Distillers

1972 - 1980

Brodie Hepburn, Marty Dyke and George Crawford

1960 - 1972

1853

William Lawson is born

1898

Lawson becomes export manager

for Dublin firm E&H Burke

1899

Registration by William Lawson of

W Lawson & Co, Dundee and Lawson’s

Liqueur Whiskey

1903

William Lawson is dismissed from

E&H Burke

1923

Burke’s moves its blending and bottling

operation from Dublin to Liverpool

1963

Clan Munro Whisky Ltd

(part of Martini & Rossi Ltd) buys

the Lawson’s trademark

1967

Relocation of the company to Lanarkshire

1972

William Lawson Distillers is established

to control all Martini & Rossi whisky interests;

Macduff distillery is acquired in the same year

1993

Bacardi Ltd purchases Martini & Rossi

1998

Bacardi buys John Dewar & Sons Ltd and

its four distilleries; Lawson’s moves from

Coatbridge to Parkhead in Glasgow

2014

William Lawson’s becomes the world’s

sixth-largest Scotch whisky brand

Bacardi

1998 - present

John Dewar & Sons

Diageo

1997 - 1998

Guinness UDV

1940s - 1997

E & J Burke

Macduff distillery has a classic, clean and functional Delme-Evans design, with the stillhouse being the most intriguing part of the engineering.

In recent years, the William Lawson blend has become a huge seller in Russia, but that hasn’t stopped Dewar’s plans to relaunch the single malt as Deveron.

1960

Glasgow brokers Brodie Hepburn,

Marty Dyke and George Crawford found

Macduff

1963

Production officially begins at Macduff

1965

Macduff's stills are increased from two

to three; two years later a fourth still is

installed

1972

William Lawson, the whisky arm of

Martini & Rossi, buys the distillery

1990

Macduff's fifth still is installed

1993

Bacardi purchases Martini, and Macduff

becomes part of the Dewar's portfolio

2013

The Macduff Royal Burgh Collection is

launched in duty free

WILLIAM LAWSON

William Lawson’s Finest Blend is sweet and medium-bodied in style, with a high malt content. At its core is the single malt of Macduff distillery, married with various bold malts and grain whiskies with a fruit forward character – no peated whisky is added.

In addition to Finest Blend, the William Lawson portfolio includes 12-year-old Scottish Gold, 13-year-old Bourbon-Cask-Finished and Super Spiced – whisky infused with vanilla and spice.

William Lawson was born in Scotland between 1853 and 1859, and subsequently migrated to Ireland. By 1888 he was working as exports manager at E &J Burke’s blending, bottling and export company in Dublin. The following year the name W Lawson & Co, Dundee and the label ‘Lawson’s Liqueur Whiskey’ were registered to Edward & John Burke – confusingly also trading as W Lawson & Co – by William Lawson. In 1890 Burke’s became a limited company, with Lawson acting as company secretary. The following year he was appointed a director of the firm, but in November 1903 he was dismissed by Burke’s, although the reasons for this are not clear.

Burke’s used an accommodation address at 20 Reform Street in Dundee for its whisky blends, though around 1923 the actual blending and bottling operations were moved from Dublin to Liverpool.

In September 1963 Clan Munro Whisky – part of the Italian vermouth and sparkling wine specialist Martini & Rossi – bought the Lawson’s trademark, and agreed with the Distillers Company Ltd (DCL) to call the brand William Lawson’s, in order to avoid confusion with the DCL blend Peter Dawson.

In 1967 the firm relocated from Liverpool to Coatbridge in Lanarkshire and two years later came the creation of William Lawson Whisky Ltd, with the intention that the new company would take over all Martini & Rossi whisky interests from Clan Munro. That takeover was completed in 1972, with the new company name being amended to William Lawson Distillers.

That same year William Lawson Distillers Ltd acquired Macduff distillery in Banffshire, which had been constructed in 1962/63. Its single malt was marketed as Glen Deveron. In 1993 rum specialist Bacardi purchased Martini & Rossi, giving it the William Lawson blended Scotch brand and Macduff distillery, and in 1998 new headquarters facilities were developed at Parkhead, in the east end of Glasgow. Until that year the company had no other distilleries apart from Macduff, but this situation changed with the acquisition of John Dewar & Sons Ltd and five distilleries from Diageo plc.

Under the ownership of Bacardi, William Lawson’s sales have risen dramatically, with volumes almost doubling between 2010 and 2014. Having been introduced into Russia in 2008, Lawson’s can now claim to be the country’s largest imported spirit brand. The blend also now enjoys strong sales in France, Spain, Portugal and Mexico.

Macduff distillery has a classic, clean and functional Delme-Evans design, with the stillhouse being the most intriguing part of the engineering.

In recent years, the William Lawson blend has become a huge seller in Russia, but that hasn’t stopped Dewar’s plans to relaunch the single malt as Deveron.

A seaside distillery, Macduff is located in the fishing port of the same name, on the banks of the River Deveron, next to the Moray Firth.

Macduff distillery has a classic, clean and functional Delme-Evans design, with the stillhouse being the most intriguing part of the engineering.

Country, Region:

Scotland, Highlands

Coordinates:

-2.512744 57.658035

Status:

Active

Company:

Bacardi

Still 1:

2 x 20,000 l

Normal

Still 2:

3 x 12,500 l

Pear

Fermenters:

9 x 32,000 l

Mashtun:

6 t

Founding year:

1958

Distillery output:

2,800,000 l

The Whisky

The Speyside distillery of Macduff has a range of official bottlings for the prospective buyer to choose from. The official expressions released by the site are a 16 year old, 20 year old, and 30 year old. All of these bottlings are actually released under the name of Glen Deveron. The distillery has changed its name a number of times throughout its history, and now operates under the name of Glen Deveron. In addition to these official releases, Macduff has also been bottled by a number of independent bottlers. Duncan Taylor has released a 45 year old bottle, which retailed at a phenomenal $2300. Gordon & MacPhail have released a 13 year old bottling, and Hunter Laing have a 21 year old bottling, which lay in a slightly more affordable price range. Additionally, Cadenhead and Signatory Vintage have also released independent bottlings. Independent bottlings of the spirit are often released under the name of ‘Macduff’, as opposed to ‘Glen Deveron’ used and legally protected by the distillery. Only about 10% of the malt whisky produced at the site is bottled as single malt whisky. This is due to the fact that the majority of the spirit distilled at the site is used as a major component in the Dewar’s, as well as the William Lawson blends.

The Production

The distillery has a production capacity of 2.4 million liters, and draws it water form local sources, including the Gelly burn, which lays adjacent to the distillery’s site.

The Pot Stills

The distillery has two wash stills and three spirit stills, which is a highly unusual set-up in Scotland. The only other distillery to have such a production structure is Talisker on the Isle of Skye. The wash stills each have a capacity of 20’000 liters, while the spirit stills have a capacity of 12’500 liters. All of the stills have a traditional Speyside shape, with wide spherical lids and tall, conical necks. A not often seen specialty of the stills are the heavily bent lyne arms.

The Maltings

Macduff distillery sources its malt from an industrial source in Speyside. The Distillery uses a combination of peated and unpeated malt, depending on the purpose of the spirit that the site is distilling. The malt that is used in the production of the spirit intended to be sold as single malt is often slightly peated, which gives the single malt a gentle, smoky taste. The distillery also uses entirely unpeated malt, which is used both in the production of raw whisky intended to be sold as single malt, and intended for blending.

The Warehouse

Macduff has an impressive on-site warehouse facility, which houses the raw whisky which is intended to be sold as single malt, as well as the whisky to be used in blending. The site has a combination of both dunnage and racked warehouses. The distillery uses a combination of Sherry and Oak casks in which the whisky is aged.

The History

Macduff is one of the newer distilleries in Speyside, having been founded in 1958. Morty Dyke, George Crawford, James Stirret, and Brodie Hepburn founded the distillery. Together, they formed Macduff Distilleries Ltd. Construction of the distillery was completed in 1960, and the first cask filling occurred in June the same year. In 1965, the number of stills at the distillery was increased from two to three. In 1967, another still was added, bringing the total at the distillery to four. In 1972, William Lawson acquired the distillery.

Lawson managed the distillery until 1980, at which point the company was bought by Martini Rossi. Under Rossi’s direction, the distillery continued to expand, adding another still in 1990. In 1992, Rossi were bought by Bacardi, and the management of Macduff was transferred to John Dewar & Sons, a subsidiary of Bacardi. Dewar & Sons still manage the distillery today, and Macduff is a major component in their blends.

3rd September 2020

Macduff Distillery celebrates 60 years of whisky production

Following the lifting of government controls on the distilling industry in 1959, including malt and grain rationing which had been in place since World War II, the door was opened to increase whisky production in Scotland and one of the first distilleries to be constructed was the new modern (for its time) Macduff Distillery near Banff in the east Highlands.

The Macduff Distillery distillery was founded by a group of Glasgow brokers - George T. Crawford, James Stirrat and Brodie Hepburn who together formed the Glendeveron Distillers Ltd. Brodie Hepburn from the group brought with him knowledge and experience of owning other distilleries such as the William Delme-Evans designed Tullibardine distillery which he purchased from William Delme-Evans in 1953, he was also later behind the founding of Deanston distillery in 1965 but before that it was architect William Delme-Evans who Brodie Hepburn and the rest of the Glendeveron Distillers Ltd turned to for the design of Macduff Distillery.

Filling the first cask at Macduff Distillery 16th June 1960 - Image copyright Bodies of Banff

Just over 60 years ago, 16th June 1960, the Macduff Distillery in Banffshire filled its first cask of single malt whisky, Cask #1 was filled by two of the Glendeveron Distillers Ltd founders and their wives, Mr & Mrs James Stirrat and Mr & Mrs George T. Crawford.

Macduff Distillery official opening invite 1st September 1960 photo copyright Bodies of BanffHowever the official opening of the Macduff Distillery didn't take place until around 10 weeks later, in fact it was exactly 60 years ago, on Thursday, 1st September, 1960 and it was officially opened by Colonel Sir George W. Abercromby, 8th Baronet, D.S.O. Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire. The official opening was attended by local business people, members of the whisky industry and the local press and the 1st September is the date the distillery marks their anniversary each year, as it was the moment Macduff distillery went officially ‘into the whisky business’.

Even some of the most ardent whisky connoisseurs amongst you could be forgiven for not recognising Macduff Distillery, as the single malt whisky it produces today does not carry the distillery name, you may be more familiar with Glendeveron single malt whisky or more recently in 2015 the single malt was rebranded 'The Deveron', at least the whisky available in the domestic market was, for some reason they chose to retain the name Glendeveron for the Macduff distillery's travel retail offerings.

Back in 1960, Macduff Distillery’s first manager was James Nicol who oversaw the bottling of its first whisky in 1968 – a five-year-old, labelled ‘Macduff Pure Highland Malt Scotch Whisky’. The reason the whisky hasn't retained the name Macduff is the Distillers' Company Limited, now Diageo, own the brand name Macduff.

Following the late 1960s Macduff Pure Highland Malt 5 year old bottling there was a mid-1970s release of a Glendeveron 8 year old. There was also a Glendeveron 12 year old year old in the 1980s and more recently there was a 10 year old.

Most of the whisky produced since the distillery's construction has gone into blends such as the current owners, (Barcardi) John Dewar & Sons, very popular William Lawson's Scotch blended whisky although some has been sold as single malt under the name Glendeveron over the years.

In 2013 things began to change when (Barcardi) John Dewar & Sons, launched the the global travel retail exclusive Glen Deveron Royal Burgh Collection which was made up of three single malts - Glen Deveron 16 Year Old, Glen Deveron 20 Year Old and Glen Deveron 30 Year Old. Each is made with previously unreleased rare, aged whiskies hand-selected from the distillery’s private reserve.

This was followed in late 2015 when John Dewars & Sons rebranded the single malt 'The Deveron' and launched The Deveron 10, 12 and 18 year old into the domestic market.

Today, Jamie Winfield holds the prestigious Macduff Distillery Manager title, he commented: "The distillery’s history and its importance to the local area is always front of mind when I walk in each morning. It’s a real privilege to be part of its past, present and future as we build on generations of craftsmanship and skill, alongside the very latest technology, to create incredible whiskies that are enjoyed around the world. This week, both here at the distillery and with our 7,000-strong global Bacardi family, we’re taking a moment to celebrate a successful 60 years in the whisky business for Macduff – here’s to many more fantastic years to come!"

The Macduff Distillery team 2020 celebrates 60 years of whisky production.

Based in Glasgow, Jacqueline Seargeant, Global Heritage Manager for Bacardi, is responsible for archiving the rich history of Bacardi’s distilleries in Scotland. She comments, "At Bacardi we have 158 years of history, going right back to the founding of the company in Cuba in 1862. Recording and sharing those stories is what my team and I do every day. I’ve loved delving into the archives ahead of the Macduff 60th and uncovering the news cuttings, photographs and even video footage which documents the distillery’s past.

"It was a significant moment for the local area when Macduff opened its doors. There was an official opening on 1st September 1960 which was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, Colonel Sir George W. Abercromby 8th Baronet D.S.O, as well as local business people, members of the whisky industry and the local press. That’s the date we mark our anniversary each year, as it was the moment Macduff distillery was officially ‘in business’.

"This period was the dawning of a new era in distilling processes. Production at Macduff was simple and compact, focusing on energy saving techniques such as lagged pot stills which were also steam heated and the use of gravity instead of pumps. It’s fantastic to see that respect for the distillery’s beautiful natural surroundings still firmly in place today.

"From changes in ownership to adapting to changes in technology and whisky production techniques, it’s been a fascinating journey for Macduff over the last six decades, and I have no doubt there will be many more amazing stories to come."

“policies” of Duff House, on the eastside of the River Deveron. A distillery

consortium of four men purchased the land, using their business connections to

establish the new distillery of Macduff. Production first began in 1960.

The design of the distillery was different to what had come before in a number

of ways, for example:

• There was no malting on site

• The fermenters were made of Corton Steel (copper nickel and mild steel)

• The original wash and spirit stills were heated at low temperature by steam

coils, an innovation at the time.

• Macduff was the first distillery to condense the spirit in shell and tube heat

exchangers instead of worm tubs.

Over the years, the ownership of the distillery has changed hands, additional

stills have been added and the still room extended and, in the 1970’s, it

was rebuilt to further increase capacity. Today, Macduff has the unusual

combination of two wash stills and three spirit stills. The state of the art tun

room has a total of nine wash backs.

This is a modern distillery built mainly for the purpose of supplying malt whisky

for the blending industry. Only a small amount of Macduff is bottled as a single

malt, usually as the clean and mild tasting Glen Deveron 10 year old.

Our Malts

Glen Deveron single malts

Opening Times

Macduff Distillery is not open to the public