Benriach 21 year old is the next step on this innovative journey, bringing together four eclectic casks in one single malt. Nov 06, 2018 the benriach distillery was built in 1898 by john duff no relation to the duff brewery from the simpsons in the heart of the speyside region of scotland speyside being the region where over 53%. A visit to benriach distillery, the comeback whisky kid of. The benriach distillery company, which has a workforce of 165 employees including 55 seasonal and casual workers, will operate as a subsidiary of brownforman. Benriach 10 year old by the whisky writer published march 10, 2018 updated march 8, 2018 billy walker was the master distiller at benriach distillery company, and is a. We have a great selection of distilling books to choose from. He was the owner of the longmorn distillery, which was owned by mr.
Peated the benriach is, in fact, a return to the original speyside character and flavour of malts typical of the nineteenth century, and uniquely, this is the only speyside distillery with a history of such a highly peated style, dating back to 1972. It still produced malt for the longmorn distillery. The whisky is bottled at 10 years old, and is included as part of the seagrams heritage collection along with strathisla, glenkeith and longmorn. Benriach single malt whisky benriach is a distillery firmly on the up after an unusual and occasionally difficult past. Brownforman, the louisville, kentuckybased producer of jack daniels, inturn bought the benriach distilling co in 2016 for. Benriach curiositas 10 year old peated scotch whisky. Whisky tour the benriach distillery 2 replies so after a great tour at the balvenie, we took off and drove toward elgin to our next target. The distillery tour to benriach was the highlight of my trip to speyside region. The benriach distillery was established in 1898 by the grant family on the same site as the longmorn distillery. The distillery was built just a stonesthrow from longmorn by the latters owner john duff in 1898 just months before the disastrous pattison crash, which put the entire scotch whisky industry in. Benriach was john duffs second distillery, and he built it just up the way from his first longmorn. The benriach distillery is a single malt scotch whisky distillery in the speyside area of scotland. Benriach speyside single malt scotch whisky escapement. The distillery is a hidden gem in the eyes of many who have comsumed their malts.
Visited the benriach distillery on 11th august with friends whilst staying in the area. John duff founded the distillery in morayshire back in 1898. For the first time in its history the benriach is released as a single malt brand in its own right. Brownforman to acquire the glendronach, benriach, and. An introduction to benriach cask bottling batch 15 whisky.
Construction work started at the site of benromach distillery in 1898 however due to the depression in the scotch whisky industry in 1898 the distillery. The distillery was built just a stonesthrow from longmorn by the latters. Brickman in 1898 and currently owned and run by gordon and macphail of elgin. It is situated near forres in morayshire and is fed with spring water from the chapelton springs in the romach hills beside forres. However, the timing proved to be unfortunate, preceding the pattison crash by just a few months. The benriach distillery company limited officers free. The benriach distillery is a single malt scotch whisky distillery in the speyside area of. One of the few overtly peated speyside malts, and definitely one to try for phenol fans. Jun 09, 2018 continuing its journey pushing the boundaries of malt alchemy, benriach distillery has released batch 15 of its cask bottling programme. Having mothballed its maltings in 1998, the distillery shut down temporarily in the early 2000s before being taken on by billy walker. Benriach about the distillery, its history and its scotch malt whisky including tasting notes. The appeal of barnards book lies not only in the technical descriptions of each. We were shown around by ewan the warehouse manager. We have books about the craft distilling industry as well as how to bottle and label your products.
Distillery and contact details for benriach scotch whisky. Nov 30, 2017 benriach, like so many scottish distilleries, is located smack dab in the middle of working farmland. The benriach distillery co was formed in 2004 when former burn stewart distillers operations director billy walker teamed up with south africabased business partners geoff bell and wayne keiswetter to purchase the mothballed benriach distillery near elgin from chivas brothers. The distillery lay silent for three long years but was soon rescued by conveniently named the benriach distillery company limited. As we crossed the courtyard from the malthouse to the distillery, we watched pigs about the same size and shape as a sherry butt rooting in the neighboring pastures soft mud. Nov 30, 2017 it wasnt until a private consortium bought the distillery in 2004 that things really started to look up. Continuing its journey pushing the boundaries of malt alchemy, benriach distillery has released batch 15 of its cask bottling programme. Benriach single malt whisky the speyside region is highly regarded as one of the finest regions for producing high quality scotch whisky and benriach is no exception. While time can never stand still, the commitment of the team at glendronach will ensure that the distinctive practices that have always defined the distillery will live on the most influential of these, its return to independent ownership.
It was established near huntly in 1826, by a consortium of businessmen including the prominent james allardice and local farmers. At benriach we have developed a reputation for innovative maturation using an eclectic mix of cask types. The distillery was built just a stonesthrow from longmorn by the latters owner john duff in 1898 just months before the disastrous pattison crash, which put the entire scotch whisky industry in peril. For every glenmorangie, theres a daluainean underrecognized, unloved. Brickmann founded the benromach distillery company in 1898. The benriach distillery company limited free company information from companies house including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual. The purchase, which brings three outstanding single malt scotch whisky brands the glendronach, benriach, and glenglassaugh into brownformans growing whiskey portfolio, includes brand trademarks, three malt. Benriach scotch whisky distillery information benriach scotch whisky distillery was built in 1898 and produces 7 quality single malt whiskies including benriach 16 year old and 30 year old. As progressive speyside whisky distillers, benriach boldly approaches the art of distillation and cask maturation. Time has shown that glendronach is a survivor, while other distilleries in the north east of scotland have faded into the history books, this iconic distillery continues to grow in popularity. Birnie moss is the name of an area of windswept moorland. Apr 27, 2016 the benriach distillery company has been sold to us drinks firm brownforman corporation in a. Distillery founder, john duff, travelled home and abroad in pursuit of whisky adventures, before building the benriach distillery in 1898. The acquisition of these super premium brands will allow brownforman to reenter one of our industrys most exciting and consistent growth segments, single malt scotch whisky.
The benriach distillery which is located just off the road to elgin, close by to longmorn distillery. It was established near huntly in 1826, by a consortium of businessmen including the. The benriach distillery company became glendronachs proud new owner. Apr 27, 2016 the benriach distillery company, which has a workforce of 165 employees including 55 seasonal and casual workers, will operate as a subsidiary of brownforman. It is in his adventurous spirit that benriach creatively explores the art of distillation and cask maturation, pushing the boundaries of malt alchemy like no other. Brownforman, the louisville, kentuckybased producer of jack daniels, inturn bought the benriach distilling co in. Benriach was founded in 1898 by john duff under the name longmorn, although it was referred locally as longmorn 2. The benriach distillery company has today 22 march 20. The benriach distillery elgin 2020 all you need to know. In 1978 the distillery changed to seagrams, who in turn were bought by pernod ricard in 2001. The benriach distillery co was formed in 2004 when former burn stewart distillers operations director billy walker teamed up with south africabased business partners geoff bell and wayne keiswetter to purchase the. The distilleries were joined by a private railroad, with a private steam locomotive, the puggy, to transport coal, barley, peat and barrels between the distilleries.
Then in 1965 the benriach distillery was bought by the glenlivet distillery ltd. Brownforman completes acquisition of the glendronach. A comprehensive yet concise history of scotch whisky robert 20180517t17. The benriach distillery located in the industrys speyside heartland was established by john duff in 1898, close to the longmorn distillery which was also owned by duff. In order to provide his readers with the history and descriptions of the. Benriach malt scotch whisky distillery profile malt madness. The benriach distillery was built in 1898 by john duff no relation to the duff brewery from the simpsons in the heart of the speyside region of. Us drinks company to buy benriach distillery company bbc news. Official answers and comments will only be given on. Benriach is a distillery firmly on the up after an unusual and occasionally difficult past. Aug 18, 2016 visited the benriach distillery on 11th august with friends whilst staying in the area. Benriach, like so many scottish distilleries, is located smack dab in the middle of working farmland. Benriach holds some of the most experimental casks in speyside, making it uniquely placed to offer a multifaceted range of casks in both unpeated and highland peated styles.
Benriach cask strength batch 1 is the first release of a series the first cask strength bottling marks a new era for the speyside distillery benriach distillery has extended its portfolio of single malt whiskys tremendously during the last years and now the first bottling. History the benriach distillery was established by john duff in 1898, close to the longmorn distillery which was also owned by duff. Brownforman owns 15 drinks brands, including jack daniels and old forester bourbons, finlandia vodka, korbel wines and herradura tequila. Benriach was operational for just two years before. The benriach distillery company limited free company information from companies house including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity. I originally had a link to a smws article on this, but that has disappeared since the redesign of the smws website, the above link is to a short piece on wikipedia, for a more in depth look at ths important episode in whisky history, see the glenlochy. In 1900, the distillery was registered under the name longmorn distillery co. Learn about the history of making spirits and the trials distillers went through in the earlier days. Curiositas is the hugely popular 10 yearold peated malt from the recentlyrevitalised benriach distillery. The tour was very enjoyable and informative and was in no way rushed. The history of glenglassaugh distillery up to and including the first launches by the scaent group was described by whisky writer ian buxton in his book glenglassaugh. Horst talks about the benriach distillery and how the distillery was sold and closed a lot of times. Benriach cask strength batch 1 is the first release of a.
But those flagship distilleries are just a part of the scotland story. A distillery that has made the history of scotch whisky benriach is a single malt whisky distillery that has done, and is still doing, the history. It is currently owned by brownforman corporation after being purchased on 1 june 2016 as a subsidiary from the benriach distillery company limited, formed by two south african funding partners, geoff bell and wayne keiswetter, and scotch whisky expert billy walker. Benromach is a speyside distillery founded by duncan mccallum and f.
The tour is worth taking, as the distillery is one of the handful of distilleries that still have the full production depth inhouse. The benriach distillery company ltd is the owner of the benriach, glendronach and glenglassaugh single malt whiskies. At the head of a group of south african investors billy walker took the little known and neglected benriach distillery and turned it into one of the speysides rising. During these times the distillery didnt operate at full capacity. Although benriach started producing malt whisky back in 1898, the distillery was a victim of unfortunate timing.
Benriach distillery company also operates the benriach and glendronach distilleries. Indeed, locally benriach was sometimes referred to as longmorn 2. It wasnt until a private consortium bought the distillery in 2004 that things really started to look up. Moray is shaped like a funnel, with the tip pointed to the sourcewaters of the spey river. Nov 18, 20 whisky tour the benriach distillery 2 replies so after a great tour at the balvenie, we took off and drove toward elgin to our next target. Benriach is in the very middle of the wide end of that funnel, outside the town of elgin. Glendronach distillery scotch malt whisky abbey whisky. This fine single malt was the first bespoke whisky to be delivered from the benriach distillery under its current stewardship heralding a new chapter in production. Built in 1898 by john duff, the benriach distillery has been producing top quality scotch whisky for over a century.
Mar 10, 2018 benriach 10 year old by the whisky writer published march 10, 2018 updated march 8, 2018 billy walker was the master distiller at benriach distillery company, and is a serial scotch entrepreneur. The benriach distillery company was bought by jack daniel owners, brownforman, in 2016. Benriach cask strength batch 1 is the first release of a series the first cask strength bottling marks a new era for the speyside distillery benriach distillery has extended its portfolio of single malt whiskys tremendously during the last years and now the first bottling of a benriach cask strength has been released. Focusing on special releases, limited editions, unique cask finishes, and peated malts, the new owners breathed fresh life into benriach, drawing critical attention and winning distillery of the year from malt advocate in 2007. Benriach distillery news newspapers books scholar jstor.
This is quiet place, not that huge like some other distilleries in dufftown, they have tours just twice a week so far but they have traditions there, they have heart and soul, pationate people are. Jun 01, 2016 louisville, ky june 1, 2016 brownforman corporation announced today that it has completed its acquisition of the benriach distillery company limited for. In the heart of speyside, between the barley fields and the foothills of the grampian mountains, lies this famous scottish distillery. There is no visitor center at the benriach distillery, but you can still book tours of the distillery on their website.
Apr 27, 2016 us spirits and wine giant, the brownforman corporation, agrees to buy benriach distillery company for. The purchase, which brings three outstanding single malt scotch whisky brands the glendronach, benriach, and glenglassaugh into brownformans growing whiskey portfolio, includes brand trademarks, three. Benriach whisky buy benriach whiskies online master of malt. The billy walker years saw benriach take on a new lease of life, acquiring glendronach and glenglassaugh distilleries into its books and reopening its maltings in 20. Duncan maccallum had previously been working at the glen nevis distillery in campbeltown and fw brickmann was a spirit broker in leith, edinburgh. History of scotch whisky the rise of single malt scotch. Benriach was operational for just two years before the pattison crash, in 1900, resulted in a period of hardship for the entire whisky industry, and the resultant closure of many distilleries. This was a joint effort between south african businessmen geoff bell and wayne keiswetter and the burn stewart director of operations billy walker. Cornerstone of scottish culture, its origin dates back to 1898 and has had a vast success on the international scene. Benriach is not set up for lots of visitors such as macallan and i felt that because of this it felt much more personal. Benriach distillery master blender, rachel barrie, welcomed the new speyside release. In 2008, the benriach distilling co acquired a second distillery from chivas brothers in the shape of glendronach, before adding glenglassaugh distillery to its portfolio in 20.