Allt-a-Bhainne distillery

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

All the equipment is contained in a single room with mash tun at one end and four stills at the other. Originally designed to produce a light, estery malt for blending requirements, in recent years it has also occasionally produced a heavily-peated variant. Allt-a-Bhainne is only very occasionally seen as a single malt bottling. 

Map
  • Region
    Speyside
  • Production type
    Single malt
  • Distillery Status
    Working

Allt-a-Bhainne History

Its modernist design singles Allt-a-Bhainne out as an oddity within Speyside, a region whose distilleries often seem to have sprouted from the bedrock. It was built by Seagram in 1975 during a period of growing optimism in the Scotch industry when the Canadian firm (which at the time owned Chivas Regal) was increasing its production capacity. It has had a chequered history with periods of being placed into mothballs (the most recent being between 2003 and 2005). With global demand rising, owner Chivas Brothers has it in full production once more.

Timeline

  • 1975 Seagram builds the modern, computerised Allt-a-Bhainne distillery in Moray
  • 2001 Pernod Ricard acquires the distillery and inaugurates it into its Chivas Brothers subsidiary
  • 2003 The distillery is mothballed
  • 2005 Allt-a-Bhainne is reopened by Chivas Brothers and operated at full capacity to produce malt whisky for its blends

Allt-a-Bhainne Facts

  • Capacity (mlpa) i
    4.2
  • Condenser Type i
    Shell and tube - separator box for heat recovery
  • Fermentation Time i
    48hrs
  • Grist Weight (t) i
    9
  • Heat Source i
    Wash stills and 1 spirit still - external steam heat exchanger, 1 spirit still by indirect steam elements
  • Malt Specification i
    Less than 1 ppm
  • Malt Supplier i
    Crisp
  • Mash Tun Size i
    6.7m diameter
  • Mash Tun Type i
    Traditional infusion
  • New-make Strength i
    68-70%
  • Spirit Still Charge (l) i
    13,000
  • Spirit Still Shape i
    Traditional Speyside
  • Spirit Still Size (l) i
    13,000
  • Stills i
    2 wash, 2 spirit
  • Wash Still Charge (l) i
    21,000
  • Wash Still Shape i
    Traditional Speyside
  • Wash Still Size (l) i
    21,000
  • Washback Size (l) i
    42,000
  • Washback Type i
    Stainless steel
  • Washbacks i
    8
  • Water Source i
    Springs on Benrinnes, Mains Burn for cooling
  • Yeast Type i
    Mauri liquid

Owners

Parent company

Current owner

Previous owner

Contact

Address
Allt-A-Bhainne Distillery
Glenrinnes
Moray
AB55 4DB
United Kingdom
Phone
+44 1542 783200
Visitor Opening Hours
Not open to the public

Map

See also

  • GlenAllachie GlenAllachie GlenAllachie Distillery & brand

    GlenAllachie

    Delicate, fruity Speysider recently relaunched as a single malt whisky.

  • Glenburgie Glenburgie Glenburgie Distillery & brand

    Glenburgie

    Filling for Ballantine's blend.

  • The Glenlivet The Glenlivet The Glenlivet Distillery & brand

    The Glenlivet

    Globally popular Speyside single malt.

  • Glentauchers Glentauchers Glentauchers Distillery & brand

    Glentauchers

    A substantial granite distillery.

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