After our disappointing trip to Benromach the DrivenByDrams gang Speyside trip had us heading for @TheDunphail.
Looking for a much better welcome and the opportunity to take some photos!
Dunphail really is in the middle of nowhere, a 20 minute taxi ride from Benromach through some lovely forest scenery revealed a clearing and a beautifully looking stone distillery.
We were met by Mike Crutch who showed us around the distillery!
First stop was in to the Malt Barn
where bBarley is stored in the Malt Loft
At the end of the barn are the tanks where the barley is steeped before
being spread on the floor where a huge spread was waiting to be turned...
Mike put us straight to work...
Once germinated it will go through a hole in the floor and up a conveyer to the kiln.
The Malt Barn, Kiln, Cupola Roof and Grain Bins.
The grain bins were full just waiting for the Licence to Distil to come through...
We then went into the central main part of the distillery where the dried barley is milled
Before being put into the stainless steel Mash Tun
Hot water is added from the tanks...
and the lauter arms mixes it all togther
The 12 open top washbacks will be used to ferment the 'beer' with distillers and natural yeasts
Between the washbacks you can glimpse the stills and spirit safe
Still heating coils
being examined by Mark!
.jpg)
Shiny condensers
The main distillery room
As distilling hadn't yet started the warehouse was quite empty!
But there were loads of casks waiting to be filled!
Turning all the barley and taking photo is very thirsty work, Mike rewarded us with a couple of drams from distillery's independent bottling range The Dava Way
 |
| Photo: John |
The Bottle Your Own Cask is all set up and ready to go - it will feature The Dava Way releases whilst Dunphail's own malt matures.
The bottles' labels have already been designed
Whilst we were there Darius was already starting some trail mashes.
Overall a fantastic afternoon!
A huge thanks to Matt for organising and Mike for hosting - we can't wait to go back when you are distilling!
It was then a taxi ride back to the Farmhouse for some food, beer and more whisky! On the way we past the Dallus Dhu distillery museum.
Tomorrow Balvenie and Glenfiddich!
No comments:
Post a Comment