Daftmill

On their farm in the Howe of Fife, which has been in the family for around 1,000 years, brothers Francis and Ian Cuthbert built Daftmill in 2005, the first new distillery in the region in over 100 years. As sixth-generation farmers on the same land, they distil only during the quieter spells of the farming year – in summer and in winter.

Unlike most distilleries, Daftmill matures all of its whisky for at least ten years before any bottling is released at all – patience over quick profit. The annual batches are correspondingly tiny and are usually sold out worldwide within a very short time.

New

Daftmill 2011/2026 - 15 Year Old Fife Strength Release 2026

Food information

Natural Colour

Content: 0.7 Liter (€257.13 / 1 Liter)

Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days

€179.99 UVP: €189.90 (5.22% saved)

Details & Buy

New

Daftmill 2013/2026 - 12 Year Old - Summer Release

Food information

Natural Colour

Content: 0.7 Liter (€188.56 / 1 Liter)

Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days

€131.99 UVP: €139.90 (5.65% saved)

Details & Buy

Why does Daftmill only distil at certain times of year?

The Cuthbert family has farmed their Pitlair Estate in the Howe of Fife for around 1,000 years – originally as tenants of the Walker family, and as owners since 1984. Francis and Ian Cuthbert were granted a distilling licence in 2005 and produced their first spirit on 16 December 2005. Because the brothers are farmers first and foremost, Daftmill traditionally distils only in summer and winter, when there is less work in the fields – a rhythm that had largely disappeared from Scotland for around a century.

Why did it take 13 years for the first release?

For a decade, the Cuthberts quietly filled around 100 casks a year without selling a single bottle. It was only in 2018 that the very first Daftmill bottling appeared: 629 bottles of a 12-year-old cask-strength malt matured in first-fill bourbon barrels. All the grain used on the farm is also grown on site.

Facts and figures

Location: Pitlair Estate, Howe of Fife, Lowlands. First distillation: 16 December 2005. First release: 2018 (12 Year Old, 629 bottles). Founders: Francis & Ian Cuthbert.