Dalmunach
Full Speyside food & drink guide — distilleries, restaurants, where to stay, when to go.
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Chivas's architecturally striking 2015 distillery, built on the site of the demolished Imperial distillery in Carron. Sits directly opposite Dailuaine across the Spey. Spirit feeds Chivas's blending programme; very limited single malt availability so far.
Dalmunach is Pernod Ricard's vast modern distillery opened 2015 on the site of the old Imperial distillery in Carron. Designed to produce 10 million litres per year, it's one of the largest and most modern in Scotland. The circular still house with eight pot stills is architecturally striking. The spirit feeds Chivas Regal and other Pernod blends. First single malt release in 2023.
Core range
Indie bottlings
46% ABV · Varies
Built 2015 on the Imperial site — Chivas-owned. No official single malt yet (too young for age statements); indie casks beginning to emerge.
Food pairings
| Whisky | Food | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Vanilla panna cotta |
Getting there
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Where to eat nearby
- The Mash Tun, AberlourHotel/Bar
Where to stay near Dalmunach
Dalmunach is Chivas Brothers' newest large distillery, opened in 2015 on the site of the former Imperial distillery at Carron. No public visitor access. Aberlour (4 miles) is the right base for anyone in this part of the valley.
Where to stay near Dalmunach
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of Dalmunach.
Booking links are affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Location
Carron, Aberlour, Banffshire, AB38 7QP
View on map →Frequently asked questions
+What happened to the old Imperial Distillery?
Imperial operated on this site from 1897 to 1998 when it was mothballed. Dalmunach was built on the same site in 2015 — a modern facility replacing a closed classic.
+Is Dalmunach open to visitors?
No — the striking circular still house is visible but Dalmunach is a production facility without a visitor centre. The nearby Aberlour distilleries are the visitor-facing options in the Carron area.
+Where is Dalmunach distillery?
Dalmunach is in Speyside. Postcode AB38.
+When was Dalmunach distillery founded?
Dalmunach was founded in 2015, making it roughly 11 years old.
Compare with similar distilleries
Modern large-scale Speyside — comparable to Roseisle (Diageo equivalent) for industrial-scope production.
Other distilleries owned by Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard)
Distilleries that share Dalmunach's corporate parent — useful context if you're comparing house styles within an owner's stable.
Allt-a-Bhainne
Built in 1975 to supply Chivas Regal, Allt-a-Bhainne went without an official single-malt release for decades before Pernod Ricard finally launched core expressions in 2018. Architecturally distinctive pagoda-free design, and surprisingly affordable at retail.
Braeval
At 355m above sea level, Braeval is the highest distillery in Scotland — built in 1973 in the remote uplands near Tomintoul. Production feeds Chivas Regal; official single-malt bottlings are very rare, with most enthusiast releases coming via independent bottlers.
Glenburgie
A large Chivas Brothers distillery near Forres whose spirit is the backbone of Ballantine's blended Scotch. Official single malt releases are very rare — single-cask independent bottlings are the usual way to try Glenburgie on its own.
Glen Keith
Built in 1957 as a sister distillery to Strathisla across the road in Keith, Glen Keith was one of the first Scottish distilleries designed for efficiency rather than tradition. It closed in 1999 and reopened in 2013 after extensive refurbishment. The whisky is light, fruity, and approachable — designed primarily for the Chivas Regal blend but increasingly released as a single malt. The Distillery Edition bottlings that occasionally appear are worth trying, though the distillery itself isn't open to visitors.
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