Daftmill Distillery: History, Owner and Farm Distillery Guide
Updated: 22 hours ago
Daftmill is a very small single malt distillery in a converted barn on a Fife farm. This guide covers its location, history and the questions people ask most.
In this guide
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Daftmill at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Producer / distillery | Daftmill |
Location | Lowland, Scotland |
Ownership | Cuthbert family |
History / origin | HMRC granted the distillery a licence in 2005 and the first spirit was produced on 16 December 2005. It is built in a converted meal mill and uses unpeated malt. Its first release was introduced as… |
Whisky characteristics | Working farm distillery with seasonal limited whisky |
Visiting | Consult current official visitor information; not every distillery is open to tours. |
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Where is Daftmill Distillery?
Daftmill is in a converted barn at Daftmill Farm in the Howe of Fife, near Cupar, Fife, Scotland.
Daftmill history
HMRC granted the distillery a licence in 2005 and the first spirit was produced on 16 December 2005. It is built in a converted meal mill and uses unpeated malt. Its first release was introduced as Daftmill 2005 12 Year Inaugural Release.
Production
Stills: one wash still (2,500 litres) and one spirit still (1,500 litres).
Maximum production capacity of only 20,000 litres of alcohol a year, making it a very low volume distillery.
All the grain used in distillation is produced on the farm.
Water source: the Daftmill spring.
Official website
A distillery that runs on the farming calendar
The official Daftmill site describes the distillery as part of a family farm in the Howe of Fife. The main farm enterprises are growing cereals, mainly malting barley, rearing beef cattle and growing potatoes, with some carrots and broccoli too. The distillery uses barley grown on the farm and water from its own artesian well.
It also works to the farm's seasons. The distillery makes whisky in the winter months when farm work is quieter, falls silent in spring for sowing, planting and turning cattle out, distils again in June and July, and stops for harvest. The official site says this seasonal pattern was once the norm but had not been seen in Scotland for about 100 years.
How Daftmill came to be
Brothers Francis and Ian Cuthbert applied for planning permission in June 2003 to convert the old mill buildings into a distillery. Repairs and installation took most of 2004 and 2005. HM Revenue and Customs granted the licence on St Andrew's Day 2005 and the first whisky ran on 16 December 2005. The official site says that made Daftmill the newest distillery to open in Scotland at that time.
The stills and mash tun came from the coppersmiths Forsyths in Rothes. Everything else, including the conversion work, was supplied by people within a five mile radius of the farm, as the official site tells it.
A closed loop on the farm
The farm grows the barley and the spent grains, known as draff, go back to feed the cattle. The pot ale and spent lees are stored in a tank and sprayed onto grass or barley stubble as fertiliser. The warm water from cooling the stills is kept for the next mash or pumped into the duck pond, where it also helps stop the pond freezing in winter.
A local landmark water tower holds a tank that supplies the distillery's water by gravity. Family history says it was built by a Dutch architect or engineer who came over for the building of the Tay Rail Bridge. The official site says the tower is over 100 years old and recently had its roof repaired and a fresh coat of paint.
Releases and where to buy
The official site says the whisky would be at least 10 years old before coming to market. Its first release was the 2005 Inaugural Release, a 12 year old of just 629 bottles launched in June 2018. The 2006 Summer release followed with 1,665 bottles, then a 2006 Winter release for the UK market of 1,625 bottles and one for export of 1,265 bottles. The site also mentions a second age statement release, a cask strength 15 year old bottled at Fife Strength.
The site says whisky is sold when available through its distributor Berry Bros and Rudd and good whisky shops, and that releases often sell out quickly. It gives no fixed release dates.
Can you visit Daftmill?
No. The official site says this is a working farm, that it is not generally open to receive visitors and that there are no visitor facilities.
Daftmill FAQ
Where is Daftmill distillery?
At Daftmill Farm in the Howe of Fife, near Cupar.
When did Daftmill start distilling?
The first spirit was produced on 16 December 2005.
Is Daftmill peated?
No. It uses unpeated malt.
How much does Daftmill make?
A maximum of 20,000 litres of alcohol a year.
Is the barley grown on the farm?
Yes. All the grain used is produced on the farm.
Photo credit
Cover photo: Daftmill Distillery, via Wikimedia Commons, used under a Creative Commons licence.
Sources
Further sources checked
Daftmill official site, home page and Our Distillery page: daftmill.com and daftmill.com/our-distillery
Gaps: the 20,000 litre capacity and still sizes earlier in this guide come from Wikipedia and were not on the pages we read. Prices and the full release list were not checked. Owner details beyond the Cuthbert family were not verified.
Photo credits
Image of Daftmill Distillery. Photo: Alan Jamieson / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). Image source · Licence
What makes Daftmill distinctive?
Working farm distillery with seasonal limited whisky
Daftmill whisky bottles and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Daftmill 2005 Inaugural Release | NAS / edition varies | Check label | Historic, limited or unconfirmed availability. |
Daftmill Summer Release | NAS / edition varies | Check label | Historic, limited or unconfirmed availability. |
Daftmill Winter Release | NAS / edition varies | Check label | Historic, limited or unconfirmed availability. |
Named expressions include historic or limited releases and do not guarantee current availability, strength or specifications. Check the producer's labels.
Explore related distillery guides
Frequently asked questions about Daftmill
Where is Daftmill located?
Lowland, Scotland.
Who owns or operates Daftmill?
Cuthbert family.
What is distinctive about Daftmill?
Working farm distillery with seasonal limited whisky
What whisky is associated with Daftmill?
Daftmill 2005 Inaugural Release, Daftmill Summer Release, Daftmill Winter Release. Current availability must be checked.
Can you tour Daftmill?
Please check the producer's current visitor information; not all locations welcome visitors.
Sources and editorial checks
Existing history and sources are retained above. Ownership, operating status, bottlings and tours may change.
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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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