The Benromach Distillery

Benromach Distillery

If you think about Benromach you would think about a lightly peated Speyside Single Malt Whisky with lovely fruity, sweet and malty notes.

Gordon & MacPhail decided that Benromach should make an older style of Speyside malts. One that isn’t your everyday style of Speyside single malt whisky that you are used to. This because of their hint of peat smoke. 

Benromach matures their single malt whiskies exclusively in first-fill casks and distill their whisky entirely by senses and expertise. All their casks are hand filled and stored in the traditional way in their dunnage warehouses. With all this love, expertise and dedication to their craft it gives it its genuine Benromach character. 

Benromach is a small distillery but earned a lot of awards around the world that shows that hard work and dedication to your craft pays off.

Keith Cruickshank is a good example of a distillery manager that know what he is doing and having a vision to look ahead for future generations to come. 

Their core range is something special every time you sip it. But their Heritage and iconic 50 year old is something to keep an eye out for. 

Benromach might be a brand that you would walk by in a liquor store, but after reading this blog, its a whisky you would grab of the selfs next time your in the store. 

I had the pleasure of visiting the distillery and meeting Keith Cruickshank. It was a honor and had a lot of fun. Keith is a knowledgeable man but also very funny and kindhearted.

The distillery looks like a fairytale right out of a fairytale book. The tranquility at the site and kindness  of the people working there are something i would not forget anytime soon.

I definitely recommend taking the distillery tour and see how the people working in the distillery do their magic. They still do everything by hand and this is a privilege to see with your own eyes.

If you are at the distillery don’t forget to taste their amazing whiskies. You can visit the visitors center next to the distillery and be amazed by their single malt whiskies.  

  • Owner

    Gordon & MacPhail

  • Status

    Operational

  • Country

    Scotland

  • Region

    Speyside

  • Production type:

    Single Malt

  • Founded

    1898

  • Production yearly

    135.000 Liters

History

Building started in 1898, but the distillery didn’t start making whisky until 1900. Its production was intermittent after that, with the distillery passing through a number of hands: Macdonald Greenlees, Joseph Hobbs, National Distillers of America and, finally, DCL.

The industry giant kept it running until 1983, when it was closed, one of a large number of distilleries which were shut as a result of an industry-wide stock surplus.

After 11 years of silence – during which its interior had been cannibalised for parts by Diageo – it was bought by Elgin’s Gordon & MacPhail. The firm then set about building what was effectively a new distillery in the shell of the old. It took the firm five years of trials before the first spirit was made.

In 1999 Gordon & MacPhail opens the visitors centre at the distillery site. This made it possible for visitors and customers buying and enjoying the single malt whiskies at site and touring the distillery. 

In the year 2009 the Benromach 10 year old single malt whisky was released and shared with the world. 

Then in 2014 the 15 year old single malt whisky from Benromach was released. 

2019 Benromach released the first 50 year old with only 125 bottles produced and with an alcohol strength of 44.6 % abv. 

2020 Benromach released their new packaging and bottle design. Launching with the 12 year old, 15 year old and the Cask strength. Later they will also release a 21 year old, Organic, Peat smoke and Vintage 2009

“We like to say there are four ingredients – the finest barley grown and malted to our specifications, water from the Chapelton Spring in the Romach Hills, yeast and us, the distillers who make it happen!” Keith Cruickshank Distillery manager

Timeline of Benromach

1898 Duncan McCallum and F.W. Brickman founded The Benromach Distillery Company and begins building a facility in Forres, Morayshire 1900 The Benromach distillery opens, but closes immediately due to financial troubles 1907 After 7 years Benromach finally reopens for three years as Forres distillery under McCallum 1910 The Benromach Distillery closes again because of World War I 1931 After reopening after World War I the distillery was able to distill one more but unfortunately in 1931 it falls silent once more for 5 more year 1938 Joseph Hobbs buys the Benromach distillery before passing it onto National Distillers of America 1953 Ownership transfers to DLC, Under DLC the distillery keeps running for 30 years, its refurbished the facility and abolishing its floor malting 1983 The Benromach distillery mothballed yet again 1993 Gordon & MacPhail buys the distillery from United Distillers, but takes five years to get it up and running again. 1998 The Benromach distillery is officially reopened by HRH Price Charles 1999 Gordon & MacPhail opens Benromach's Visitor's Centre at the site 2006 & 2007 Benromach releases different kind of single malts like the cask strength, sassicaia wood finish, Madeira cask finish and the peat smoke 2009 Benromach releases its flagship whisky the 10 Year Old 2010 & 2011 Benromach releases even more different mind of whiskies and finishes like: Pedro Ximenez Wood Finish, Port Wood Finish, Origins, Burgundy Wood Finish and the single casks 2013 & 2014 Benromach releases the Chateau Cissac wood finish series, Heritage Wood Finish series, Origins Golden Promise, and the Tokaji Wood 2014 Benromach releases their 15 Year old Single Malt Whisky 2016 Benromach releases the Heritage vintage 1973, 1974, 1975 2017 & 2018 Benromach releases more Heritage 1972, 1977 and the 1978 2018 Benromach releases its Cask No.1 2019 Benromach releases its first 50 year old with only 125 bottles produced 2020 Repackage and rebranding their brand and whiskies 2021 Benromach releases its 21 year old

Distillery Facts

  • All
  • Gallery Item
PPM:

12

Spirit Stills:

1 with 4.500 liters of low wine added to the spirit still. the spirit still has a capacity of 6.000 liters. 

Wash Still:

1 wash still with a capacity of 10.000 liters amount of was added to the still 7.500 liters 

Water Source:

Chapelton Spring

Washbacks:

4 washbacks with a capacity of 11.000 liters each. Type of wash back used larch. 

New Make Spirit:

70% ABV 

Filling strength will be 63.5% abv

Warehouses:

3 dunnage warehouses with a total storage of 8.000 cask. 

Yeast type:

Distillers and brewers 

Malt supplier:

Scottish grown, Scottish malted, Bairds, Crisp, Boortmalt. 

Taste profile

The taste profile of a typical Benromach will be:   

Core range 

At this point Benromach’s core range is: 

Contrasts: 

Single Cask Series: 

  • Single cask 2003
  • Single cask 2010
 

Archive bottles: 

New packaging 2020

Benromach launched their new packaging with the new iconic 10 year old, 15 year old and cask strength. 

The new slick white and red colors and lettering symbolize the distilleries colors and new style of letters. This style will be on all the bottles Benromach release and we can enjoy it for years to come. 

This will also mean that in time the older packaging and bottles will disappear from the shelfs and will be collectables. 

Awards

10 year old:

2015: Gold (scotch whisky masters 

2016: Double gold ( San Francisco World Spirits Competition

2016: 95 points: Ultimate Spirit Challenge 

2017: Gold: Spirit Selection y Concours Modial e Bruxelles

2017: Best Speyside Single Malt  12 Years and Under. Whisky Magazine

2018: Gold: World whiskies Award 

2018: Gold: LA International Spirits Competition

2019: Winner of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Awards

2020: Gold: San Francisco World Spirits Competition 

15 year old:

2016: Gold: Whisky Magazine World Whiskies Awards 

2016: 95 points: Ultimate Spirit Challenge 

2017: Silver: San Francisco World Spirits Competition

2018: Best Speyside Single Malt: Whisky Magazine World Whiskies Awards

2018: Gold: Spirits Selection by Concours Modial de Bruxelles

2018: Gold: LA International Spirits Competition 

2019: Runner up of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Awards

2019: Silver: International Spirits Challenge 

Cask Strength Vintage:

2016: Gold: World Whisky Award

2018: Gold: Los Angeles International Spirits Competition

2018: 97: Ultimate Spirits Challenge Extraordinary

2018: Gold: World Whisky Awards

 

Distillery Tours

There are a couple of different tours available at the distillery. To be sure you will have a tour at the distillery, its best to reserve your spot by sending them a e-mail or buy your tickets up front. 

 

THE CLASSIC TOUR

A guided walk around the distillery, followed by a tasting of our award-winning Benromach 10 & 15 Year Old whiskies.

DURATION:

About 1 hour

DRAMS

3 drams

COST

£8 per person THE CONTRAST TOUR

A leisurely tour around the distillery, followed by a delicious exploration of our contrasting Benromach whisky expressions.

DURATION: About 90 minutes DRAMS 4 drams COST £20 per person THE HERITAGE TOUR

Discover our heritage with a tour around the distillery alongside one of our friendly tour guides. After the tour you will be led through a tasting of our Benromach whisky range in one of our tasting rooms.

DURATION: About 2 hours DRAMS 4 drams COST £75 per person VIRTUAL TOUR

We would like to introduce our new tour, where you can explore all aspects of Benromach from the comfort of your own home. The Benromach Virtual Tour gives you the “in person” experience that photography can’t match!

Its free 

Click here 

Tastings 

You don’t have time for a tour, not to worry. You can still experience Benromach’s amazing single malts whiskies at their visitors center. Hear their story and explore their range of whiskies with a short tasting.

THE CLASSIC RANGE 3 drams

COST

£12 per person THE CONTRAST RANGE 4 drams

COST

£12 per person THE HERITAGE TOUR 4 drams

COST

£45 per person  

Visitor center 

OPENING TIMES

January – February

OPENING TIMES

 

Day Times
Monday 10:30 15:00
Tuesday 10:30 15:00
Wednesday 10:30 15:00
Thursday 10:30 15:00
Friday 10:30 15:00
Saturday 10:30 15:00
Sunday Closed  

 

March -October

OPENING TIMES

Day Times
Monday 09:30 15:30
Tuesday 09:30 15:30
Wednesday 09:30 15:30
Thursday 09:30 15:30
Friday 09:30 15:30
Saturday 09:30 15:30
Sunday Closed  

November  – December

OPENING TIMES

Day Times
Monday 10:30 15:00
Tuesday 10:30 15:00
Wednesday 10:30 15:00
Thursday 10:30 15:00
Friday 10:30 15:00
Saturday 10:30 15:00
Sunday Closed  

 

CONTACT DETAILS

Invererne Road,
Forres,
Moray IV36 3EB
Scotland,
United Kingdom

Benromach social media links

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Livingbythedram social media links 

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