XXX

Glendullan Distillery, Dufftown.

August 14th, 1923

Glendullan is one of the six distilleries that arose round Dufftown towards the end of the past century. Erected in 1898, it was acquired by Messrs. MacDonald, Greenlees and Williams, Distillers, Ltd, some two years ago.

The distillery stands in a valley a mile to the east of the town, and with woods and hills on all sides and the river Fiddich flowing past the premises, the site is typical of the beauty of the Speyside district. Near Glendullan is Old Balvenie Castle, an ancient ruin with a moat and crumbling ramparts, and the buildings of the distillery itself, including the manager’s house with its pretty garden, are well laid out and of exceptionally good appearance.

Several feet above the level of the distillery is a convenient siding from which the barley passes through a chute into the barley loft. A cleaning machine of the latest pattern has recently been installed, and after going through this appliance the barley is distributed on the floor, and taken to the steep by a system of band conveyors. Fifty quarters are steeped at a time, and for the process of germination a large malting-floor is provided. The kiln, thirty feet square, is floored with Hermann’s patent wire, and the furnace is controlled by a King’s patent regulator.

The present proprietors of Glendullan have effected many improvements since taking over the property, and an important innovation is the new Porteous mill introduced a year ago. A serious problem in malting is the prevention of explosions during grinding operations, which are sometimes regarded as inevitable, although every distillery manager has his own methods of attempting to overcome the difficulty. An ingenious safety device is employed at Glendullan. The passage containing the spiral screw that conveys the ground malt from the mill to the elevator communicating with the grist hoppers has been partially filled in to allow just enough space for the movement of the screw. In this manner any flame in the mill, caused by the presence of flint in the malt, is checked and kept out of the elevator, where the explosions actually occur in all cases.

The quantity of malt mashed weekly at Glendullan Distillery is 1,250 bushels, and four grist hoppers hold the grist before it is dropped into the mash-tun. Both of the stills are furnace-heated, the wash-still with a capacity of 3,500 gallons, and the Spirit-still capable of containing 2,500 gallons. The still-house is remarkable for the admirable arrangement of the various vessels. The receiver room, for instance, forms an entirely separate apartment, so that no dust or steam can come in contact with the appliances. Side by side are the Spirit receiver and low-wines and feints receiver, with a large Spirit-safe between the two vessels. The weekly output is generally 3,000 gallons, and the Whisky is known as “Glendullan-Glenlivet.” Four huge warehouses supply adequate storage accommodation.

Special mention must be made of the excellent purification system, comprising a quintuple evaporating plant. The spent wash is passed from the wash-still to a special boiler, and then to the evaporating tubes, where it is evaporated until it has a consistency of six per cent. syrup. The syrup is then transferred into a tank, casked, and used either for feeding or manuring purposes. Another section of the purification plant contains settling tanks for all waste liquids from the distillery, and before being run into the river these liquids are aerated and filtered.

Power for Glendullan Distillery works is supplied by water from the swift-flowing Fiddich, and the electric light which was introduced in all parts of the establishment a year or two ago is generated by a direct-coupled motor engine and dynamo set.

Draff from the mash-tun is sold wet, as in most of the Speyside distilleries, and there appears to be a good market for this by-product.

Messrs. MacDonald, Greenlees and Williams, the proprietors of Glendullan distillery, are also well known as the owners of Auchinblae distillery, Fordoun, Kincardineshire; and Stronachie Highland Malt distillery, Forgandenny.