Aultmore Distillery: History, Owner, Range and Visitor Guide
Updated: 2 days ago
Aultmore is a Dewar's distillery north of Keith in Moray, founded in 1895 by Alexander Edward, then owner of Benrinnes. Owned by Bacardi's John Dewar and Sons since 1998, it has just completed a major expansion. This profile covers its history, owner, production and visitor status.
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Aultmore at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified information |
|---|---|
Location | Near Keith, Speyside |
Established | 1895, Alexander Edward |
Owner | John Dewar & Sons / Bacardi |
Region | Speyside, Scotland |
Principal single malt range | Aultmore 12 Year Old; Aultmore 18 Year Old; Aultmore 21 Year Old |
Visiting | No regular public visitor programme verified |
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Aultmore history, people and production
Where is Aultmore distillery?
Aultmore is about two miles north of Keith, on the road to Buckie. The name comes from the Gaelic An t-Allt Mor, meaning big burn, after the Auchinderran burn that supplies its water.
Aultmore history
Alexander Edward, who owned Benrinnes, founded the distillery in 1895. It was first powered by a waterwheel, then by a steam engine that Wikipedia says ran day and night for 70 years. The engine is now on display at the site.
1895: founded by Alexander Edward.
1898: expanded, doubling production.
1899: owned by Pattisons, which went bankrupt that year. The distillery closed and reopened around 1904.
First World War: closed again because of barley shortages.
1923: bought by John Dewar and Sons.
1925: joins the Distillers Company.
1930: bought by Scottish Malt Distillers, according to Wikipedia.
1968 to 1971: floor maltings close, the distillery is rebuilt and expanded, and it reopens in 1971 with four stills.
1998: sold back to Dewar's under Bacardi.
2022: Bacardi announces a 15 million pound expansion, reported by The Single Cask as completed in late 2024 and roughly doubling capacity.
How Aultmore makes its whisky
The Single Cask says the malt is unpeated and bought from commercial maltsters, mashing has used a Steinecker full lauter tun since 2002, and fermentation runs a minimum of around 56 hours in six wooden washbacks. The original four stills are described as plain, onion shaped and run slowly, with shell and tube condensers. Wikipedia adds that the distillery was among the first in the 1950s to use draff as animal feed.
Who owns Aultmore?
John Dewar and Sons, part of Bacardi, since 1998. It also owned the distillery from 1923 to 1925.
Aultmore whisky expressions compared
These distillery expressions have been documented in producer catalogues or specialist sources. Limited editions, vintages and market strengths are not interchangeable. Whisky Clan has not independently tasted or rated every bottle in this table.
Named whisky expression | Age | Listed ABV | Maturation / release |
|---|---|---|---|
Aultmore 12 Year Old | 12 years | 46% | Ex-bourbon and refill American oak maturation |
Aultmore 18 Year Old | 18 years | 46% | Selected American oak maturation |
Aultmore 21 Year Old | 21 years | 46% | Mature American oak cask selection |
Aultmore 15 Year Old Dry Marsala Finish | 15 years | Check label | Dry Marsala wine cask finishing |
Aultmore 16 Year Old Spirit of Speyside 2026 | 16 years | Check label | Rare 2026 Spirit of Speyside release; specific cask details not verified |
How does Aultmore whisky taste?
The distillery's reported character is influenced by its stills, fermentation, oak and age. Exact nose, palate and finish notes depend on the named bottle, age and cask; consult the official source for the release before treating a style description as an individual tasting review.
Limited bottles, awards and collector information
Limited editions, festival bottlings and older single casks can appear under the same distillery name. The bottle table distinguishes established expressions from historic or less widely available releases. Award claims should always be tied to a named expression, competition and year; none are implied for the entire range here.
Where to buy Aultmore whisky
Availability, pricing, bottle formats and distribution vary between the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Europe. The official catalogue linked below is the best starting point for identifying a whisky, but no live retailer stock is guaranteed.
Visiting Aultmore Distillery
No regular public visitor programme verified.
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Frequently asked questions about Aultmore
Where is Aultmore distillery?
About two miles north of Keith in Moray.
Who owns Aultmore?
John Dewar and Sons, part of Bacardi.
How do you pronounce Aultmore?
The Single Cask gives Olt-more.
Is Aultmore peated?
No. It uses unpeated malt.
Can you visit Aultmore?
No. It is not open to the public.
Sources and image credits
Featured photograph: existing Aultmore distillery photograph from Whisky Clan's original site media. Please contact Whisky Clan with any additional attribution details or corrections.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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