Dalmore distillery was built in 1839 by Alexander Matheson, who leased it to the Sunderland family who ran it for thirty years. In 1869 the lease was taken over by three brothers - Alexander, Charles and Andrew Mackenzie. In 1874, and following Alexander Matheson's death the distillery was sold to the Mackenzies in 1891. 

During World War I, production ceased as the Royal Navy used the warehouses as factories to produce mines.  After they left in 1920, part of the distillery was damaged by an explosion in the warehouses and Dalmore only resumed production in 1922.

A Saladin box malting system was installed in 1956, remaining in operation until 1982, the last time barley was malted on site.  The distillery remained under sole ownership until 1960, when it was merged with Whyte and Mackay, who increased the number of stills from four to eight. 

In the period between 1970 and 2002 ownership of Whyte and Mackay changed hands a number of times, eventually ending up in the hands of American Brands in 1990. The company then acquired Isle of Jura and Tamnavulin in 1993.

The company's most famous whisky Dalmore 62 year old, broke the then world record at auction for a single bottle of whisky at almost £26,000.