Covering the people, the place, the pivotal moments, the distinct liquid style and the personality.
The accounts and statements in this site form the DNA of the DYC brand. These truths shape the brand and help to define its future direction.
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THE DECK
MOMENTS
HISTORY OF DYC
In 1958, Nicomedes García Gomez founded Sociedad Destilerías y Crianza del Whisky (DYC) – the first whisky distillery in Spain.
It was no coincidence that Nicomedes chose to establish his whisky distillery in Palazuelos de Eresma, a charming place 5 km from his native city of Segovia – a place where climate and raw materials provide optimal conditions for whisky production.
The pure meltwater from the River Eresma, the high-quality grains from the region of Castile and León, and the high altitude of Palazuelos de Eresma all come together at the DYC Distillery to create a whisky that is vibrant, smooth, and lightly smoky.
Born of the passion of Nicomedes and his desire to produce the first quality whisky in Spain, DYC is a unique and proudly Spanish whisky created for social moments and life’s celebrations.
This site outlines the history of the DYC brand, the personality, and celebrated stories, and the distinguishing characteristics of the liquid itself.
It was no coincidence that Nicomedes chose to establish his whisky distillery in Palazuelos de Eresma, a charming place 5 km from his native city of Segovia – a place where climate and raw materials provide optimal conditions for whisky production.
The pure meltwater from the River Eresma, the high-quality grains from the region of Castile and León, and the high altitude of Palazuelos de Eresma all come together at the DYC Distillery to create a whisky that is vibrant, smooth, and lightly smoky.
Born of the passion of Nicomedes and his desire to produce the first quality whisky in Spain, DYC is a unique and proudly Spanish whisky created for social moments and life’s celebrations.
This site outlines the history of the DYC brand, the personality, and celebrated stories, and the distinguishing characteristics of the liquid itself.
DYC Timeline
1901
NICOMEDES GARCIA IS BORN IN VALVERDE DEL MAJANO, SEGOVIA
1920s
Nicomedes visits Scotland and is so deeply inspired by the Highland Scottish whiskies that he aspires to build a whisky distillery in Spain.
1957
Nicomedes returns to Scotland to study whisky making in greater detail.
1958
Nicomedes, supported by friends and shareholders of Banco General de la Administración, establishes the Sociedad Destilerías y Crianza del Whisky (DYC) – the first Whisky Distillery in Spain.
1959
DYC distills the first run of Spanish Whisky.
1963
THE FIRST BATCH OF DYC WHISKEY
hits the Spanish market with almost a million cases, selling out quickly.
1989
The death of our Founder Nicomedes Garcia Gomez.
DYC is taken over by Pedro Domecq.
DYC is taken over by Pedro Domecq.
2014
Beam Suntory Aquisition
Stories
HISTORY CELEBRATED
A VISIONARY APPROACH
Nicomdes García founded the first whisky distillery in Spain and paved the way for Spanish whisky. Today DYC is a leader in sustainability and regeneration, the first distillery of its kind to implement a cogeneration energy system.
A CREATIVE APPROACH
Nicomedes García not only created the first Spanish whisky but also created the demand for it through advertising. Inspired and led by the creative spirit of Nicomedes, the ads joyfully portrayed DYC being enjoyed by both men and women – even women being served by men, a visionary and novel approach at the time.
A COMMUNITY APPROACH
Nicomedes García founded DYC as a society of whisky and aging that brought people together to share celebratory moments. His generous spirit inspired our sustainable approach, captured in the saying that is written on the walls of our distillery: ‘DYC gives back to Segovia what Segovia gives to DYC.’
People
NICOMEDES GARCÍA GOMEZ
THE FOUNDER’S DREAM
THE CREATION OF THE FIRST SPANISH WHISKY
The Sociedad Destilerías y Crianza del Whisky is the First Spanish Whisky and the Embodiment of Spanish Quality – Creative, Vibrant and Generous.
PROUDLY SPANISH
A VISIONARY FOUNDER
Our founder Nicomedes García Gomez was born in 1901 in Valverde del Majano, a small town in Segovia. When he was only 18 years old, Nicomedes inherited the distilleries of Anís Castellana from his father Felipe García. He decided to invest in the infrastructure of the business and expanded the facilities – a move that proved successful as his liqueurs and anisettes became very popular in the Spanish market.
SCOTTISH INSPIRATION
In the 1920s, Nicomedes traveled to Scotland to visit various distilleries – a key experience that greatly influenced and inspired Nicomedes, instilling within him the desire to build his own whisky distillery in Spain one day.
During his time, Nicomedes was one of the most important and influential businessmen in Spain. Driven by a tireless entrepreneurial spirit, he was involved in everything from industrial to commercial to financial endeavors, covering transport, shipping, and even the manufacture of nougat and non-refillable bottle caps.
During his time, Nicomedes was one of the most important and influential businessmen in Spain. Driven by a tireless entrepreneurial spirit, he was involved in everything from industrial to commercial to financial endeavors, covering transport, shipping, and even the manufacture of nougat and non-refillable bottle caps.
VISIONARY CREATIVITY
Most notably, Nicomedes established the advertising agency, Azor, to create demand for and grow his brands – a true symbol of Nicomedes’s visionary creativity. To support this, he built a commercial network for the distribution of his products, with points of sale in all of the provincial capitals and in most of the major Spanish cities.
Nicomedes subsequently acquired Bodegas Scholtz Hermanos wines of Málaga and bought the majority of shares in the General Bank of Administration, which became the General Bank of Commerce and Industry. This would help him establish DYC.
In 1957, Nicomedes made another trip to Scotland to learn more about whisky making and study the process in detail so he could open his own distillery in Spain, modeled after the best plants in Scotland.
Nicomedes subsequently acquired Bodegas Scholtz Hermanos wines of Málaga and bought the majority of shares in the General Bank of Administration, which became the General Bank of Commerce and Industry. This would help him establish DYC.
In 1957, Nicomedes made another trip to Scotland to learn more about whisky making and study the process in detail so he could open his own distillery in Spain, modeled after the best plants in Scotland.
SOCIEDAD DESTILERÍAS Y CRIANZA DEL WHISKEY
Finally, in 1958, supported by several friends and shareholders of the bank, he created the Sociedad Destilerías y Crianza del Whiskey – the origins of DYC. Nicomedes founded Spain’s first whisky distillery on an estate known as “Molino del Arco” or Arch Mill, a 15th-century landmark and icon of Segovian industry, named after the Marquis del Arco.
In 1959 the first whisky distillation took place, and the new make spirit went to the warehouse to age in wood barrels for 4 years. However, in the 1960s, Spain did not have an existing whisky market. In fact, it was almost impossible to enjoy whisky in Spain due to the minimal import of bottles, and the subsequently exorbitant prices.
In 1959 the first whisky distillation took place, and the new make spirit went to the warehouse to age in wood barrels for 4 years. However, in the 1960s, Spain did not have an existing whisky market. In fact, it was almost impossible to enjoy whisky in Spain due to the minimal import of bottles, and the subsequently exorbitant prices.
CREATIVE SPIRIT
Nicomedes and his team at the Azor agency addressed this challenge via a teaser campaign that read: “Just wait, in three days we’ll tell you what DYC is.” Not only did this campaign create great excitement and curiosity around DYC, but it also exemplified the truly innovative and visionary creative spirit of Nicomedes. DYC’s early campaigns were avant-garde, showing equality between men and women, and teaching Spaniards how to drink whisky – a product that was practically non-existent at the time.
In 1963, when the aging period was over, and the advertising campaign had been launched, DYC whisky was released to the Spanish market with a circulation of 90,000 boxes, which were sold in record time. Such was the demand, that after three years, Nicomedes had to expand the facilities by building new warehouses and distilleries to increase production and aging. In 1973, Nicomedes purchased the Scottish distillery Lochside from Joseph Hobbs, using the malt liquid produced there for DYC blends.
In 1963, when the aging period was over, and the advertising campaign had been launched, DYC whisky was released to the Spanish market with a circulation of 90,000 boxes, which were sold in record time. Such was the demand, that after three years, Nicomedes had to expand the facilities by building new warehouses and distilleries to increase production and aging. In 1973, Nicomedes purchased the Scottish distillery Lochside from Joseph Hobbs, using the malt liquid produced there for DYC blends.
NICOMEDES GARCÍA GOMEZ
After enjoying many years of success, our visionary founder Nicomedes died in 1989 marking the end of DYC as a family business.
Place
PALAZUELOS DE ERESMA
PALAZUELOS DE ERESMA
Palazuelos de Eresma is a municipality located in the province of Segovia, Castile and León, Spain. Its name is derived from the River Eresma which flows through Segovia.
THE DISTILLERY
The natural characteristics of the area make it ideal for distilling whisky, and it's no coincidence that Palazuelos de Eresma was selected by Nicomedes as the location for producing Spain’s first-ever whisky. Furthermore, with our own malting plant, a malt distillery, and a grain distillery, as well as cellars for aging the liquid, DYC is one of the few distilleries in the world that includes every part of the whisky production process on a single site.
A rich history lies behind the Distillery at Palazuelos de Eresma, dating back to the 15th century. It is built on the structure of the Molino del Arco (the Arch Mill), a 15th-century building named after the Marquis del Arco, and the only 15th-century estate in Segovia to have an attached mill.
The Arch Mill is an icon of Segovian industry and an aspirational symbol of the evolution and recognition of Segovia. The building previously served as a covenant of friars, a wool laundry, a paper factory, and a flour mill before 1958, when it was chosen to house the DYC Distillery. The iconic Arch welcomes all the visitors to the distillery and has become a symbol for our whisky, present on every DYC bottle.
A rich history lies behind the Distillery at Palazuelos de Eresma, dating back to the 15th century. It is built on the structure of the Molino del Arco (the Arch Mill), a 15th-century building named after the Marquis del Arco, and the only 15th-century estate in Segovia to have an attached mill.
The Arch Mill is an icon of Segovian industry and an aspirational symbol of the evolution and recognition of Segovia. The building previously served as a covenant of friars, a wool laundry, a paper factory, and a flour mill before 1958, when it was chosen to house the DYC Distillery. The iconic Arch welcomes all the visitors to the distillery and has become a symbol for our whisky, present on every DYC bottle.
COEXISTENCE WITH COMMUNITY
Nicomedes always believed in reinvesting in the area and giving back to his community. These values remain an important part of DYC today.
We strive to be a zero waste facility, recycling everything and using spent grains for animal feed. We also support a cyclical economy, and any energy we don’t use goes directly to the village of Palazuelo del Eresma.
In 2007 we developed a cogeneration energy system, making DYC the first distillery of its kind to introduce such a system. Cogeneration uses natural gas to produce electricity, steam and hot water, which the Distillery then uses for whisky production. This provides increased efficiency (60% energy savings per year) and a significant decrease in its environmental impact.
We also have a Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), which purifies and returns surplus water to the Eresma River.
Our workers also volunteer with the Eresma River Bank Reforestation Plan, collaborating with several local institutions to support the regeneration of the natural environment by planting indigenous tree species, which the Distillery then looks after.
DYC is one of the few distilleries in the world that includes every part of the whisky production process on a single site, making us both more efficient and more environmentally friendly.
We strive to be a zero waste facility, recycling everything and using spent grains for animal feed. We also support a cyclical economy, and any energy we don’t use goes directly to the village of Palazuelo del Eresma.
In 2007 we developed a cogeneration energy system, making DYC the first distillery of its kind to introduce such a system. Cogeneration uses natural gas to produce electricity, steam and hot water, which the Distillery then uses for whisky production. This provides increased efficiency (60% energy savings per year) and a significant decrease in its environmental impact.
We also have a Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), which purifies and returns surplus water to the Eresma River.
Our workers also volunteer with the Eresma River Bank Reforestation Plan, collaborating with several local institutions to support the regeneration of the natural environment by planting indigenous tree species, which the Distillery then looks after.
DYC is one of the few distilleries in the world that includes every part of the whisky production process on a single site, making us both more efficient and more environmentally friendly.
Liquid
House Style Liquid
A PROUDLY SPANISH TAKE ON CLASSIC HIGHLAND WHISKY
VIBRANT, SMOOTH, AND LIGHTLY SMOKY WITH FRUITY NOTES
Two Types of Whisky are made at the DYC Distillery:
Malt whisky, obtained exclusively from barley.
This category includes DYC Pure Malt, DYC Single Malt, DYC 15, and DYC Doble Roble.
Blended whisky, which mixes spirits distilled from barley and corn.
This group includes DYC, DYC 8, and DYC 12.
This category includes DYC Pure Malt, DYC Single Malt, DYC 15, and DYC Doble Roble.
Blended whisky, which mixes spirits distilled from barley and corn.
This group includes DYC, DYC 8, and DYC 12.
OUR PORTFOLIO
DYC CORE RANGE
MATURATION AT HIGH ALTITUDE
The special conditions of our Distillery’s location adds distinctive character to our whisky. Beyond the use of quality local grains and pure water from the River Eresma, the high altitude of our Distillery (more than 1000 m above sea level) along with the extreme climate of the area play an important role in the aging of our whisky.
In Palazuelos de Eresma, winter is very cold and long and summer is short and very hot. Due to this fact, the humidity in our aging warehouses changes over the year from 90% in winter/spring to 30% in summer/autumn, with an average angel’s share of 3%, losing more water than alcohol during the aging process.
For this reason, the liquid is 64% ABV at the beginning of the aging process, and 68% ABV at the end. This results in a slower extraction of fruity and sweet flavours and aromas from the wood.
The exchange that happens between the alcohol, wood tannins, and oxygen uniquely influences the characteristics of the final product, in addition to the temperature and humidity.
Another key factor impacting the liquid is of course time, as well as the nature of the wood and its origin.
In Palazuelos de Eresma, winter is very cold and long and summer is short and very hot. Due to this fact, the humidity in our aging warehouses changes over the year from 90% in winter/spring to 30% in summer/autumn, with an average angel’s share of 3%, losing more water than alcohol during the aging process.
For this reason, the liquid is 64% ABV at the beginning of the aging process, and 68% ABV at the end. This results in a slower extraction of fruity and sweet flavours and aromas from the wood.
The exchange that happens between the alcohol, wood tannins, and oxygen uniquely influences the characteristics of the final product, in addition to the temperature and humidity.
Another key factor impacting the liquid is of course time, as well as the nature of the wood and its origin.
Experience
THE FIRST SIP
CRAFTED FOR SOCIAL MOMENTS
The Vibrant, Smooth and Lightly Smoky Taste Profile of DYC can be best enjoyed on the rocks or mixed.
DYC is easily sessionable with friends and family – perfect for life’s celebrations.
DYC is easily sessionable with friends and family – perfect for life’s celebrations.
Personality
PROUDLY SPANISH
CREATIVE
VISIONARY & INNOVATIVE
The entrepreneurial spirit of Nicomedes García Gomez, a businessman with creativity at heart, guided by a dream of creating the first Spanish whisky – the embodiment of Spanish quality.
VIBRANT
BRIGHT & CELEBRATORY
A vibrant, smooth, and sessionable whisky for the people, crafted for social moments with friends and family to enjoy life’s celebrations.
GENEROUS
LIGHT-HEARTED & SMART
Welcoming people to the DYC distillery and whiskies through the generous symbol of the Arch and a smart sense of humor.
