Whisky neophytes may not be aware that there isn’t in fact a Dewar’s distillery. The iconic Scotch brand is a blend of several different whiskies, but the so-called “heart malt” that lends it a good amount of its award-winning character today is called Aberfeldy. First conceived of in 1896 by the sons of the brand’s founder John Dewar, the Aberfeldy Distillery near Speyside is the only Scotch whisky distillery ever built by the Dewar family.
Therein lies the tale of why Aberfeldy has come to be known as the “Golden Dram.” And it’s not just because Aberfeldy’s single malts, including 12, 16, 18 and 21 Year Old expressions, plus some rarer finds, are some of the very best on the market.
The Dewar clan built Aberfeldy when the success of their burgeoning blended whisky business prompted them to begin producing single malt themselves, thereby ensuring a steady supply of quality whisky for their acclaimed brand. And while that’s still the case today, Aberfeldy has since become hugely respected in its own right, no mere ingredient for another product but in high demand among single malt enthusiasts.
The site of the distillery, only two miles…
