Mannochmore Distillery, Speyside

Mannochmore, a close neighbour of Glenlossie, in the valley of the Lossie, south of Elgin, is a modern distillery, founded by John Haig & Co in 1971. It fell silent in 1985,  re-opened in 1989 as part of UDV (Diageo), only to be permanently mothballed after a few years of activity in 1995. Its original role was to contribute to the Haig blends, augmenting the production of its partner distillery Glenlossie. Mannochmore created the first black whisky, the Loch Dhu. Loch Dhu, which means Black Lake in Gaelic, was aged in special, double-charred oak casks. Charring the casks twice, enhanced Loch Dhu's distinct black colour, and its smooth, slightly sweet flavour.