An announcement made by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) earlier this month, revealed that Dallas Dhu Distillery will reopen. Like it, many distilleries were forced to close during the 1980s Whisky Loch, when there was a surplus of whisky.
In 1983, Dallas Dhu ceased production and was sold to HES. It was then transformed into a distillery museum and a monument to 20th-century distillation.
According to HES, an agency has been awarded the task of managing distillery operations that is scheduled to reopen in 2025. Having won the award, Aceo Distillers Company will establish a new warehouse and distillery. A secondary objective of HES is to ensure that Dallas Dhu continues to be a tourist attraction. Transforming into a Whisky Tour that incorporates the rich history of distilling in the Speyside region.
Dallas Dhu Distillery Reopens Under Aceo Management
One key event impacting the distillery is the Whisky Auctioneer July auction. Ideally, the hammer will be offering old and rare bottles of Dallas Dhu on its platform. The event which began July 26, is bolstering industry excitement about the reopening.
In addition, an event previously held by the Perth-based auction house sold the oldest and rarest bottle of Dallas Dhu single malt in history. Dubbed the Dallas Dhu 1921 Private Cask 64-Year-Old #296, the spirit fetched a value of US$21,855.
Originally filled on 16th April 1921, the cask matured for over six decades at the distillery until it was sold at Whisky Auctioneer in 2021. The feat remains the only bottle ever available for sale. Joe Wilson, Head Curator & Spirits Specialist at Whisky Auctioneer, said:
“While the resurrections of giants like Brora and Port Ellen were supported by annual limited releases, This distillery is a different case entirely. With only a handful of official releases, it has a cult status among connoisseurs. Many contemporaries closed during the “whisky loch” are now demolished or repurposed, making its revival particularly special.”
According to Whiskey Auctioneer, the auction will include many rare bottles of Dallas Dhu single malt whiskey. The most notable bottlers of the whisky maker single malt whisky are Gordon & Macphail’s Connoisseurs Choice, and Diageo’s Rare Malts Selection.
