The History Of Dailuaine
1853
Founded by farmer William MacKenzie in a hollow by the Carron Burn. The name he chooses means ‘the green vale’ in Gaelic.
1863
The Strathspey Railway arrives, opening Dailuaine to the world.
1865
William MacKenzie dies and the distillery is let for a number of years to James Fleming.
1879
William’s son Thomas becomes a partner in MacKenzie and Co.
1884
Thomas Mackenzie sets out to modernise the distillery. Five years later it is one of the biggest in the highlands in terms of production.
1889
It becomes the first distillery to be fitted with architect Charles Doig’s pagoda roof.
1891
MacKenzie & Co converted to Dailuaine-Glenlivet Distillery Ltd.
1898
The distillery merges again to form Dailuaine-Talisker Distilleries Ltd. Thomas MacKenzie had a substantial interest in Talisker distillery and so becomes chairman and MD of the new company.
1907
A railway connection links the distillery with warehouses at Aberdeen and Imperial Distilleries and Carron, both of which MacKenzie part owned.
1915
Thomas MacKenzie dies and the business is bought by a consortium of Buchanan, Dewar and John Walker and sons.
1917
After a decade of recession and poor returns, fire destroys much of the distillery.
1920
Production resumes, with power supplied by ingenious means, including waterwheels and steam engines.
1950
Dailuaine is connected to the national grid.
1959
A 12 month period of restoration work begins.
1960
The distillery expands from four to six stills, and over the next five years the stillhouse is modernised.
1970
The Strathspey railway is closed, and the much loved Puggies – steam engines which had served the distillery for decades – are given their last run.
