Macduff Distillery
Macduff Distillery is a Highland single malt distillery on the east bank of the River Deveron in Macduff, Aberdeenshire, founded in 1960. One of its most distinctive quirks is that the distillery name almost never appears on the bottle — the whisky is released instead under the Glen Deveron and The Deveron names. Owned by Bacardi's John Dewar & Sons subsidiary, Macduff supplies malt spirit as a major component in Dewar's and William Lawson blended Scotch whiskies. Around 10% of annual production is set aside for single malt bottlings.
Tours
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On-site Shop
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Online Shop
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History
Macduff Distillery was built in 1960 by a consortium of local businessmen including George Crawford, Marty Dyke, and Brodie Hepburn — the last of whom was also involved in the founding of Deanston and Tullibardine distilleries. The first distillation took place on 30 June 1960, with the facility fully completed in 1962.
In 1972 the distillery was acquired by William Lawson Distillers, who made its malt a key component in the William Lawson blended Scotch range. Ownership passed to Martini & Rossi in 1980. When the Bacardi Corporation acquired Martini & Rossi in 1992, Macduff passed into the hands of John Dewar & Sons, where it has remained since — integrated into Bacardi's broader Scotch whisky production portfolio alongside Dewar's, Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie, and Royal Brackla.
The distillery name is rarely seen on commercial releases due to a longstanding association of "Macduff" with Diageo's heritage (the name was reportedly considered a potential trademark conflict). As a result, all official single malt releases use the "Glen Deveron" or "The Deveron" brand. The Macduff name does appear on releases from independent bottlers.
Production
Macduff operates with two wash stills and three spirit stills — an asymmetric still configuration that contributes to its production character. Annual capacity stands at approximately 2,400,000 litres of alcohol. Water for mashing is drawn from the Gelly Burn. Malt is sourced from external maltings. The spirit is matured primarily for blending purposes, with a small proportion held back for single malt expression. The majority of production feeds Dewar's and William Lawson blended Scotch whiskies.
Tasting Character
Macduff produces an accessible, fruity Highland single malt with light, approachable character. Tasting notes for The Deveron expressions typically include orchard fruit, gentle malt, vanilla, and a clean, medium-dry finish. The style is designed to integrate smoothly into blended whiskies but holds its own as a single malt in the 10, 12, and 18 year old expressions. Ex-bourbon cask maturation contributes the vanilla and fruit-forward profile.
What They Produce
Notable Bottlings
- The Deveron 10 Year Old£53.95 — Light, fruity Highland entry point; 40% ABV
- The Deveron 12 Year Old£45.50 — Step up in complexity; sweet malt and orchard fruit
- The Deveron 18 Year Old — The premium core expression; greater depth and dried fruit character
- Glen Deveron 10 Year Old£53.95 — Earlier commercial labelling, now largely superseded by The Deveron branding
- Independent bottlings — Occasional single cask releases from independent bottlers appear under the Macduff name
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Visiting
Macduff Distillery is not open to visitors. There is no visitor centre, public tours, or retail shop. The distillery operates as a purely production facility within the John Dewar & Sons estate.