Balmenach whisky distillery
Single malts from the Speyside distillery Balmenach are usually only available from independent bottlers. Otherwise, the spicy-floral whisky wanders into the blends of its owner.
Balmenach Whisky
The Balmenach whisky distillery is located in the middle of the Speyside, between Grantown-on-Spey and Bridge of Avon.
House Style
What does Balmenach single malt taste like?Balmenach Single Malt Whisky is slightly peaty on the one hand, but also clearly flowery on the other. Overall, you can expect a hearty whisky at Balmenach bottlings, which you can also enjoy with food. Older bottlings are often attributed a distinct heather aroma.
Manufacturing
How is Balmenach whisky produced?The production volume of the Balmenach distillery is about 2 million liters annually. They distill in six stills. A stainless steel mash tun and six Douglas fir fermentation tanks are also used. In 1991 a Balmenach single malt was released in the Flora & Fauna series, but it is now sadly no longer available outside of auction. There is currently no original bottling from the distillery. From time to time, independent bottlers like Gordon and MacPhail offer a Balmenach Single Malt.
History of Balmenach distillery
The distillery was apparently founded in 1824. This made the distillery one of the first in the region characterized by illicit distillation. The distillery was operated continuously in the 19th century. However, the owners did not invest enough in the structure of the distillery, so the building gradually fell into disrepair. During the First World War the distillery was closed and only when a group of blenders took over the distillery in 1922 did the distillery develop better. In the 1930 the distillery was acquired by Scotch Malt Distillers, DCL’s malt production arm, and in 1991 passed to to United Distillers. In 1993 United Distillers closed the distillery. In 1997 Inver House Gordon bought the distillery and revitalized Balmenach. The distillery is also the home of Caorunn Gin.
Balmenach factsheet
| Name | Pronounced | AKA | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balmenach | bal*may*nack | Inver House Distillers | Speyside |
| Country of Origin | Status | Active | Whisky Type |
| Scotland | Active | 1824 - Present | Malt |
| Website | Tours Available | Owned by | Parent Group |
| Balmenach | Tour Link | ThaiBev |
Balmenach equipment & site
| Condensers | Worm tub |
|---|
What Balmenach makes
Whisky and Gin
- Caorunn Gin
- Balmenach (rare single malts)
Balmenach Timeline:
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- 1823James Macgregor received a visit on his farm, on which he kept an illicit Still, from the local exciseman, who was suspicious about seeing a building with a mill-wheel and a lade. Asked what is was James told him that it was a peat shed. After receiving generous hospitality upon leaving James got the gentle advice to take out a license for his peat shed
- 1824Said to have been founded by James McGregor
- 1824-Aug-18A ledger entry recorded the sale of ”10 gallons of aqua 11 over-proof”, at 9 shillings per gallon duty-paid, to William Milne, of Broad Street, Aberdeen
- 1825-67James McGregor licensee
- 1878-82James Macgregor died and was succeeded by his brother, John MacGregor, who was summoned home from New Zealand
- 1879During the great storm that blew down the railway bridge across the River Tay, the Distillery chimney collapsed and a fire was fighted by a Stillman by opening the Discharge Cocks preventing the fire from spreading
- 1896John McGregor & Son
- 1897Balmenach-Glenlivet Distillery Ltd. was formed and the distillery was linked to the station at Cromdale by a private railway
- 1920Company reconstructed
- 1923-24Owners Peter Dawson Ltd.
- 1930All shares bought by Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. (SMD)
- 1941Distillery closed and used as a billet for the Royal Corps of Signals
- 1947Distillery reopened
- 1962Extended from four to six stills. Licensed to John Crabbie & Co. Ltd., Leith. Saladin maltings and dark-grain plant
- 1968Mash House renovated
- 1971Stills became steamheated
- 1992Licensed to United Malt & Grain Distillers Ltd. (UMGD)
- 1993Announced by United Distillers (UD) that distillery will be mothballed which was done that year
- 1997Sold to Inver House Distillers Ltd.
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Can I tour Balmenach?
No, unfortunately Balmenach distillery is not open to the public for tours
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