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In the highlands but only by a few miles, south-west of Perth, beyond Crieff
and Gleneagles, is Doune, with a well-preserved medieval castle and an
historic former cotton mill designed by Richard Arkwright. The mill was
originally water driven, and is on the river Teith. The supply of good water
from the river
apparently contributed to the decision by Brodie Hepburn (operators of the
nearby Tullibardine distillery
to turn the mill into a distillery at
a time when the whisky industry was doing very well. It opened as the
Deanston distillery in 1965/6 with the vaulted weaving shed as a warehouse.
The distillery prospered during the 1970s, producing a blend and a malt called
"Old Bannockburn" but closed during a difficult period in
1982. At the time it was owned by Invergordon. Following the revival of the
industry in the late '80s Deanston was bought in 1990 by the Glasgow blenders
Burn Stewart. It has two pairs of large, bulbous stills with high necks and
unusual upwards-inclined lyne arms, arranged to encourage a reflux action and
deliver a purer spirit.
© Michael Jackson 1994, smws
See also article in SMWS Autumn 93 newsletter
Doune, Perthshire, FK16 6AR
Tel: 01786-841422
Hear "Deanston" pronounced in AU or WAV format
Read an article about Deanston distillery
Search Dr. Do'g's index for the history of Deanston
There just might be some news about Deanston in The "Scotsman" newspaper