The Deanston distillery is a single malt whisky distillery located along the banks of the River Teith, in the southern part of the Scottish Highlands. Deanston first acquired its name in 1500, when Walter Drummond (the Dean of Dunblane) inherited the lands now known as Deanston from the Haldanes of Gleneagles. The Scots word ‘dean’ was coupled with the Scots Gaelic term ‘toun’, meaning farm/settlement, to make Deanston. The distillery building was originally established in 1785 as a cotton mill and was converted into a distillery in the 1960s.
The history of the Deanston distillery is as fascinating as it is unique. Originally, the site was used as a cotton mill, which was one of the largest mills in Scotland during the 18th century. It was the collective efforts of James Finlay & Co, Brodie Hepburn & Co, and A.B (Sandy) Grant, known together as Deanston Distillers Ltd, who converted Deanston Mill into a malt whisky distillery in 1965.
Today, the Deanston distillery is owned by the Distell Group, one of the largest alcoholic beverage companies in Africa. Despite this, the distillery remains committed to producing its whiskies using traditional methods and techniques, which have been passed down from generation to generation.
The distillery draws its water from the nearby River Teith, which is known for its purity and freshness. The river also powers Deanston's on-site hydroelectric plant, which produces enough power to run the distillery and then some.
Deanson has an annual capacity of 3,000,0000 litres of alcohol produced via two 20,000 litre wash stills and two 17,000 litre spirit stills.
Deanston whiskies are matured in a variety of casks, including bourbon, sherry and port casks, and even stout. Some of the most popular whiskies produced by Deanston include the Deanston 12 Year Old, the Deanston Virgin Oak and the Deanston 18 Year Old. These whiskies are renowned for their rich, complex flavours and aromas, which have made them a favourite among whisky connoisseurs around the world.
