As a Devonshire lass, I've been following the progress of Dartmoor distillery with much interest. Recently, I was lucky enough to pay the distillery a visit. I was also lucky enough to have the company of Jo Lawson (@alpacajo on twitter) and we were kindly shown around by Greg Miller, one of the distillery's founders.
Located in the converted town hall in Bovey Tracey, with its water supply coming from nearby Princetown, Dartmoor Distillery isn't the most conventional looking! Although still very much at the construction stage, everything is beginning to fall into place now that the stills have been installed. The distillery is due to open in the summer of next year and the first spirit should be running off the stills at the end of November.
Talking of the stills, they also look a little unconventional for whisky production. That's because they were, in fact, brought all the way from Cognac. Greg explained that they are aiming to use them to make a fruity spirit which will be matured in ex bourbon casks with some wine cask finishing. Some of the whisky will be matured on site with the rest being matured at an undisclosed location.
Naturally, for a distillery of this size, output will be limited; approximately 800 bottles will be made each year.
The other, smaller, still went off the customs' radar after 1924. However, it dates from 1890 and will be used for gin production. As a result, the gin will more than likely be called Dartmoor 1890!
Update: Dartmoor Distillery single malt is now available to purchase over on Master of Malt: Dartmoor Bordeaux Cask
(please note the above link is an affiliate link)
