Dunphail Distillery fills first casks and opens second funding round

Dunphail has announced, that on Thursday 26^th October, it achieved the landmark of filling and laying down its first casks. Using the initial runs of new make spirit collected from the first two weeks’ of full production at the distillery, ten sherry butts were selected as Dunphail’s maiden maturations and were laid down within the distillery’s on-site warehousing.

The larger format casks were carefully chosen because of their inherent alignment with the distillery’s robust and intense spirit.  Founder and Master Distillery Dariusz Plazewski explained: “The remarkable character and profound flavour of Dunphail’s spirit has been entirely derived from our traditional production processes – full on-site floor malting and kilning, alongside long, open-topped fermentations and directly fired stills. Our spirit is the product of our historical outlook on production combined with our forward-looking, innovative approach to whisky appreciation. Our first casks combine these elements perfectly – reflecting the fruit-forward, rich and full-bodied nature of both the sherry butts and our exceptionally characterful spirit. Now we wait. But, we’re all delighted to have started the clock for the arrival of Dunphail’s single malt whisky!”

Alongside the announcement of filling its first casks, Dunphail also revealed that it had opened a second funding round. A target of an additional £2m is being sought through an equity offering which will support further production, the expansion of sales and marketing capability and further development of the distillery’s tours and visitors experiences.

Plazewski commented: “Our calling is to produce world-class, full-bodied, fruit-forward single malt whisky using the full range of processes, each one shaped by generations of rich distilling heritage. We intend to establish Dunphail Distillery as one of the finest whisky producers within Scotland and are keen to work with investors who share our vision. Through an additional equity offering we’re looking forward to delighting out customers with thought-provoking single malt whiskies, whilst offering a truly exceptional distillery and visitor centre experience.”

Dunphail Distillery based in Morayshire commenced production in October 2023, having self-constructed the 200,000 LPA site by converting an existing farm steading. The distillery’s visitor centre and shop opened earlier this year, offering daily tours and tastings of Dunphail’s Dava Way whiskies to a growing number of visitors.

Dunphail New Make Spirit (filling strength 63.5%)

Crafted from 100% on-site floor malted and kilned Laureate barley

Nose: Crisp, clean and vibrant. The character and purity of the spirit are demonstrated with waxed lemons and limes alongside a scattering of hedgerow berries. The fruit-forward notes are then enriched by oven baked buns, buttered bread and freshly cut grass resulting in a captivatingly broad assortment of aromas.

Taste: Oiliness and texture runs throughout establishing a remarkably rich and fulsome mouthfeel. Lemon curd, zested limes and orange peels sit alongside substantive pastry character – brioche, malt loaf and barley cakes. Undertones of minerality and ginger spicing unravel to reveal a spirit that possesses an extraordinary distinctiveness.

Finish: Boundless energy still persists, as expressive notes of citrus progressively fade into a malt-driven conclusion.

About Dunphail Distillery 

Dunphail produces world-class full-bodied, fruit-forward single malt whisky using the full range of traditional production processes, each one shaped by generations of rich distilling heritage. We take a meticulous approach to whisky making, combining knowledge with passion to ensure that everything we do is driven by the foundations of flavour and quality. We craft the finest whisky the way it used to be made – taking the traditions of the past to shape the whisky of tomorrow.