Scottish spirits startup Domhayn is challenging traditional maturation methods by submerging casks in the depths of Scottish lochs. The technique, which the company calls “hydrostatic diffusion,” represents a potential paradigm shift in spirit maturation.
The brand, whose name derives from the Gaelic word for “deep,” was founded by James Patterson after an inspirational moment watching wild swimmers enjoy whisky after swimming in Loch Ness.
“This is about pushing the boundaries of how we understand spirit maturation,” says Patterson. “We know the environment a cask matures in has a huge impact, but no one has explored the application of pressure like this before. The results have been astounding.”
Pioneering Process
Domhayn’s process involves submerging spirit-filled wooden casks to extreme depths – in the case of their first release, 214 meters (702 feet) beneath Loch Ness. At these depths, significant hydrostatic pressure alters the spirit’s molecular profile.
According to Patterson, the submersion causes casks to compress and decompress, triggering unique interactions between wood and spirit. Each cask can only withstand one “dive” before the pressure permanently alters it.
To validate their findings, Domhayn has partnered with the Department of Chemistry at the University of Oxford to analyze the spirits.
“We wanted to go beyond tasting notes and detect for molecular-level changes in the spirit,” Patterson explains. “The results showed a different molecular composition in the processed samples, providing evidence that our process alters the molecular level profile of the spirits compared to control samples.”
Interestingly, despite Domhayn’s innovation involving submerged casks containing what appears to be whisky, their final bottled product cannot legally be called “whisky.” The underwater maturation process, while groundbreaking, falls outside the strictly defined production methods permitted under whisky regulations.
These regulations, designed to protect traditional whisky-making practices, don’t account for hydrostatic pressure maturation techniques. Consequently, Domhayn’s creation exists in a regulatory gray area – a spirit that begins its life as whisky but transforms through a process not recognized within established spirit drink categories, necessitating its classification simply as a “spirit” rather than whisky
Domhayn Limited First Release
Domhayn’s inaugural release comes from cask DLNABK, submerged on Valentine’s Day 2025. The 2010 single malt barley spirit is bottled at its natural strength of 55.5% ABV, with only six bottles produced.
Andrew Wilson, Commercial Manager at Young Spirits, Edinburgh, who received pre-release samples, noted, “Tasting the before and after samples reveals a distinct difference, both in flavor and mouthfeel.”
Each bottle includes precise coordinates of where its cask rested on the loch bed, creating what Patterson calls “a direct, tangible link between the spirit and the environment that shaped it.”
The first bottle will be auctioned online on April 25, 2025, at whiskyauctioneer.com.
Each submerged cask produces no more than 72 bottles, with every bottle presented in a bespoke waxed-cotton “paper bag” designed in collaboration with Canadian fashion designer Charlotte McKeough.
Patterson sees applications beyond whisky, noting their technique could be applied to wine, rum, and vodka.
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“For collectors, connoisseurs and pioneers of taste, we believe Domhayn offers something truly extraordinary,” Patterson concludes.
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