Macduff Distillery

A third still joined the first 2 in 1965, and a fourth followed in 1967.^3,6,9 Other sources give 1964 or 1966 for the third still and 1968 for the fourth.^3,6,9 In 1990 the tun room and stillhouse were rebuilt, and a fifth still was added.^3,6,7 Each still's lyne arm, the pipe carrying vapour off the still, tilts upward with a right-angled kink, which ScotchWhisky.com suggests may help add a balancing fruitiness.^3,7

Brokers Block, Grey & Block took over in 1966, or in 1964 by another account, and kept the original company name, Glendeveron Distilleries Ltd.^3,7,9 In 1972 William Lawson Distillers Ltd. bought it.^4,5,6 Sources differ on when Martini & Rossi took control: some say with the 1972 sale, others in 1980.^3,4,6 Bacardi took over Martini & Rossi, Macduff's owner, in 1993.^3,4,5 In 1998 Bacardi bought John Dewar & Sons Ltd. from Diageo, and Macduff joined Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie and Royal Brackla in the Dewar portfolio.^3,7,10 ScotchWhisky.com instead dates Macduff's move into the Dewar's group to 1993 or 1995.^3,7,10

Water for the stills comes from the Gelly Burn spring, and water from the River Deveron is used for cooling.^6,9 A new Steinecker mash tun, where malt is mixed with hot water, was installed in 2022.^7,9 In 2025 the Scotch Malt Whisky Society listed 9 stainless steel washbacks, the tanks where the wash ferments.^7,9,11 The society gave fermentation as 55 hours; an older article gave 49 to 55 hours.^7,11 The spirit stills have horizontal shell and tube condensers, and ScotchWhisky.com says these cold condensers add weight to the spirit.^1,2,3 Bacardi says the distillery is set up for a light, fruity spirit, while ScotchWhisky.com calls the character nutty.^1,3 The society gave its theoretical capacity in 2025 as 4.1 million litres of alcohol a year; Wikipedia gives 2,400,000 litres.^4,7

Sources

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