Name: Dumbarton 1974 Single Grain Whisky
SKU: 0250633
Price: 49 GBP
Availability: InStock

Single grain whisky from Dumbarton distillery, distilled in 1974, vatted and bottled from selected barrels.

December 2025

The history of Scotch whisky has to a significant degree been shaped by excise legislation, ever since the first tax was imposed on it by the Scots Parliament in 1644. The parliament passed an Excise Act fixing the duty at 2/8d (13p) per pint of ‘aquavitae or other strong liquor’ – the Scots pint being approximately one third of a gallon.

Over the next two centuries, many changes were made to the legislation surrounding the taxation of whisky, but one factor that never changed was the determination of some distillers to operate illicitly, cutting out any proceeds for the treasury altogether.

In the early 1820s as many as 14,000 illicit stills were being seized each year, and it was estimated that more than half the whisky consumed in Scotland had been distilled without benefit of licence. In 1822 there were no fewer than 6,278 prosecutions for illicit distilling. 

The following year saw the passing of perhaps the most significant piece of legislation ever enacted in relation to Scotch whisky. The Act was an attempt – largely successful, as it turned out – to stifle the extensive trade in illicitly-distilled whisky.

The Excise Act encouraged legal distillation by cutting duty to 2s 5d per gallon, a historic reduction of more than 50 per cent, and a minimum still size of 40 gallons was sanctioned. A licence fee of £10 per annum was introduced, the concept of duty-free warehousing was developed, and distillers were free to export to England and overseas. 

One of the key figures behind the Excise Act of 1823 was the 4th Duke of Gordon, who had extensive estates throughout north-east Scotland, an area that was the very heartland of illicit distillation. Gordon proposed that if new legislation was put in place to make legal distilling more attractive, he and his fellow landowners would do all in their power to uphold the law as diligently as they could and evict anyone convicted of illicit distilling.

The advantages were perceived as being more revenue for the government, despite the lower level of duty, and opportunities for the lairds to make money out of the rash of whisky-making operations that would surely be built as a result of the proposed legislation. Remarkably, no fewer than 79 new distilleries were commissioned between 10th October 1823 and 9th August 1824, with the number of licensed distilleries rising from 111 in 1823 to 263 by 1825.

Perhaps the most significant name from a north-east of Scotland ‘Speyside’ perspective to join the list of legal distilleries was that of Glenlivet, where Captain George Smith began to distil legally at his Upper Drumin farm in 1824. However, Smith’s father, Andrew, had been distilling on the site since 1774, without ever feeling the need to acquire a licence! 
Glenlivet was notable as being the first distillery in the Highlands to be licensed in the wake of the 1823 Excise Act, with support from the Duke of Gordon. Not that the newly licensed Glenlivet flourished without interference, however. Many of Smith’s compatriots considered him a traitor for ‘going legit,’ and as he wrote some years later, they threatened to “…burn the distillery to the ground, and me at the heart of it. The laird of Aberlour presented me with a pair of hair-trigger pistols worth ten guineas, and they were never out of my belt for ten years.”

According to legend, Smith only ever had recourse to his pistols on one occasion. This occurred in a tavern where he stopped for refreshment after delivering some whisky to a customer, and involved a number of would-be thieves, keen to relieve wealthy travellers of their money. When they approached Smith, he drew one of his pistols and fired it into the fireplace. He was allowed to finish his drink in peace.
As a legitimate distillery, Glenlivet supplied high quality single malt to Scotland’s thirsty, expanding population centres to the south, and in terms of reputation, all other Speyside distilleries soon came to exist in its shadow.

One effect of the 1823 Excise Act was a move away from very small, localised licensed distilleries in southern and central Scotland, with larger whisky-making concerns reflecting the general trend towards bigger, more professional and integrated commercial activities across the UK. 
Indeed, Scotland had already witnessed a tendency towards the development of an industry focused on a relatively small number of extensive distilleries, with the likes of Kilbagie, Kennetpans, Glenochil, Cambus and Carsebridge among the most significant. This consolidation continued apace in the wake of the 1823 Act, though the Highlands were still characterised by a larger number of individually smaller distilling operations.

To give a clear idea of just how significant the 1823 Excise Act really was, many of the distilleries and single malts we now value most highly were licensed within a decade or so of its enactment. Not all of these were ‘new builds,’ of course, with some, usually farm-based, having previously operated under the radar without licenses.

The list of distilleries in question includes Balmenach, Ben Nevis, Benrinnes, cardhu, Edradour, Fettercairn, Glen Scotia, Glencadam, GlenDronach, Glenfarclas, Glengoyne, Glenkinchie, Miltonduff, Royal Lochnagar and Talisker   as well as many others no longer in existence.
While a very strong case can be made for declaring the 1823 Excise Act to be the single most important piece of excise legislation relating to Scotch whisky, a case can also be made for the 1860 Spirit Act which legalised the blending of malt and grain whiskies under bond for the first time. But that is another story for another day.

The Deil's awa wi' the Exciseman - Robert Burns

"The deil cam fiddlin' thro' the town, 
And danc'd awa wi' th' Exciseman; 
And ilka wife cries,  Auld Mahoun, 
I wish you luck o' the prize, man.

The deil's awa the deil's awa, 
The deil's awa wi' the Exciseman, 
He's danc'd awa he's danc'd awa 
He's danc'd awa wi' the Exciseman.

We'll mak our maut, and we'll brew our drink, 
We'll laugh, sing, and rejoice, man; 
And mony braw thanks to the meikle black deil, 
That danc'd awa wi' th' Exciseman.

There's threesome reels, there's foursome reels, 
There's hornpipes and strathspeys, man, 
But the ae best dance ere came to the Land 
Was, the deil's awa wi' the Exciseman.

The deil's awa the deil's awa , 
The deil's awa wi' the Exciseman, 
He's danc'd awa he's danc'd awa  
He's danc'd awa wi' the Exciseman."

…burn the distillery to the ground, and me at the heart of it.

In this intriguing piece, Gavin D. Smith delves into the relationship between taxes and the Scotch Whisky industry.

1823 EXCISE ACT

Historical

In our inaugural Blog entry, Guest writer Ian Buxton explores the seemingly unglamorous distillery mill. The unsung hero of whisky distilleries.

The Distillery Mill

Useful Info

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Refer to images for general condition

1999-2000 Vintage Cask Strength

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours

70 cl

49.3%

1999-2000 Vintage Sherry Butt

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 1st Batch

52.1%

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 2nd Batch

51.8%

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 3rd Batch

48.5%

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 4th Batch

52.2% vol

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 5th Batch

51.1%

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 6th Batch

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 7th Batch

49.4%

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 8th Batch

karuizawa_masterpieces_in_8_colours_1999_2000_vintage_cask_strength_2772469_040343.webp

karuizawa_masterpieces_in_8_colours_1999_2000_vintage_cask_strength_2772470_942038.webp

karuizawa_masterpieces_in_8_colours_1999_2000_vintage_cask_strength_2737150_367503.webp

macallan_over_25_years_old_195859_anniversary_malt_75cl_205317_688103.webp

75 cl

Anniversary Malt

Macallan Over 25 Years Old 1958/59

macallan_over_25_years_old_195859_anniversary_malt_2780182_427293.webp

macallan_over_25_years_old_195859_anniversary_malt_2780183_460184.webp

macallan_over_25_years_old_195859_anniversary_malt_2780184_782322.webp

macallan_10_years_old_the_vintners_rooms.jpg

The Vintners Rooms

Macallan 10 Years Old

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macallan_10_years_old_the_vintners_rooms_2781166_463826.webp

ardbeg_21_years_old_ardbeg_house_reserve_2781167_648630.webp

52.9%

Ardbeg House Reserve

Ardbeg 21 Years Old

ardbeg_21_years_old_ardbeg_house_reserve_2781237_384284.webp

ardbeg_21_years_old_ardbeg_house_reserve_2781169_133470.webp

dalmore_1981_matusalem_sherry_finesse.jpg

44% vol

Matusalem Sherry Finesse

Dalmore 1981

dalmore_1981_matusalem_sherry_finesse_2779361_445961.webp

dalmore_1981_matusalem_sherry_finesse_2779362_031715.webp

dalmore_1981_matusalem_sherry_finesse_2779363_040728.webp

dalmore_1981_matusalem_sherry_finesse_2779364_630798.webp

dalmore_1981_matusalem_sherry_finesse_2779365_191215.webp

hibiki_21_years_old_suntory_636624.webp

2025 Artist Edition | Hiroshi Senju

Hibiki 21 Years Old

hibiki_21_years_old_2025_artist_edition_hiroshi_senju_2777201_571509.webp

hibiki_21_years_old_2025_artist_edition_hiroshi_senju_2777202_728300.webp

hibiki_21_years_old_2025_artist_edition_hiroshi_senju_2777203_294901.webp

hibiki_21_years_old_2025_artist_edition_hiroshi_senju_2777204_590130.webp

Dumbarton 1974 Single Grain Whisky

Other

Multiple

Full Size

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December 2015

Minor marks to transit box

mortlach_75_years_old_gm_generations_323185_229163_283298.webp

44.4%

Gordon & MacPhail Generations

Mortlach 75 Years Old

mortlach_75_years_old_gm_generations_2765665_095334.webp

mortlach_75_years_old_gm_generations_2765664_021908.webp

macallan_distil_your_world_london_edition.jpg

57.5%

London Edition

Macallan Distil Your World

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macallan_distil_your_world_london_edition_2779336_706048.webp

macallan_distil_your_world_mexico_edition.jpg

Mexico Edition

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macallan_distil_your_world_mexico_edition_2781097_218672.webp

macallan_43_years_old_1965_2008_carn_mor_celebration_of_the_cask_no2114_2765556_787529_520203_836087.webp

54.1%

2008 Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask No.2114

Macallan 43 Years Old 1965

macallan_43_years_old_1965_2008_carn_mor_celebration_of_the_cask_no2114_2765556_787529.webp

macallan_43_years_old_1965_2008_carn_mor_celebration_of_the_cask_no2114_2765557_885570.webp

Outer transit box damage, missing handle. Mark to stopper.

macallan_m_black_decanter_2017_release.jpg

2017 Release

Macallan M Black Decanter

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macallan_m_black_decanter_2017_release_2778908_858145.webp

macallan_coronation_375469.webp

35 cl

55.7% & 58.1% vol

60th Anniversary Of Queen Elizabeth II

Macallan Coronation

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macallan_coronation_60th_anniversary_of_queen_elizabeth_ii_2776968_218078.webp

Minor mark to back of box

macallan_coronation.jpg

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macallan_coronation_60th_anniversary_of_queen_elizabeth_ii_2777958_358969.webp

Very minor mark to box

macallan_easter_elchies_2010_433973.webp

52.3%

Easter Elchies 2010 Release (Orange Ribbon)

Macallan 13 Years Old 1997

macallan_13_years_old_1997_easter_elchies_2010_release_orange_ribbon_2776934_672699.webp

macallan_13_years_old_1997_easter_elchies_2010_release_orange_ribbon_2781241_655094.webp

macallan_30_years_old_1966_1996_signatory_vintage_cask_no4177_2777518_480891.webp

1996 Signatory Vintage Cask No.4177

Macallan 30 Years Old 1966

macallan_30_years_old_1966_1996_signatory_vintage_cask_no4177_2777519_437691.webp

macallan_25_years_old_sherry_oak_pre_2018_840399.webp

700ml

Sherry Oak (Pre 2018)

Macallan 25 Years Old

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glendronach_31_years_old_grandeur_batch_3_950409_411889.webp

45.8%

Grandeur Batch 3

Glendronach 31 Years Old

glendronach_31_years_old_grandeur_batch_3_2776889_850278.webp

glendronach_31_years_old_grandeur_batch_3_2776890_012965.webp

Minor mark & rust to tube

macallan_18_years_old_1984_2777900_422965.webp

Macallan 18 Years Old 1984

macallan_18_years_old_1984_2777901_189113.webp

macallan_copper_spirit_still_replica_219702_163069.webp

Springbank Copper Wash Still Replica

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springbank_copper_wash_still_replica_2781239_210642.webp

macallan_30_years_old_sherry_oak_2022_release_645023.webp

Sherry Oak 2022 Release

Macallan 30 Years Old

macallan_30_years_old_sherry_oak_2022_release_2780558_382113.webp

macallan_30_years_old_sherry_oak_2022_release_2780559_346440.webp

macallan_12_years_old_sherry_wood_1990s_1_litreduty_free_878188_703972_244710.webp

100cl

Sherry Wood 1980's (1-Litre/Duty Free)

Macallan 12 Years Old

macallan_12_years_old_sherry_wood_1980s_1_litreduty_free_2779157_445695.webp

macallan_12_years_old_sherry_wood_1980s_1_litreduty_free_2779158_787444.webp

No wooden box. Please refer to images for general condition & fill level.

macallan_25_years_old_1965_1991_the_anniversary_malt_2777917_413371.webp

1991 The Anniversary Malt

Macallan 25 Years Old 1965

macallan_25_years_old_1965_1991_the_anniversary_malt_2777918_221196.webp

Minor dents & scuffs to box

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(1980s)

Glen Garioch 21 Years Old 1965

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tullibardine_44_years_old_1970_the_custodians_collection_2nd_release_2749332_789258_023934.webp

40.3%

The Custodian's Collection 2nd Release.

Tullibardine 44 Years Old 1970

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tullibardine_44_years_old_1970_the_custodians_collection_2nd_release_2749333_169552.webp

Dumbarton 1974 Single Grain Whisky

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