Ballindalloch Distillery LLP
Company established to oversee the build and operation of Ballindalloch distillery in Banffshire.
Ballindalloch
Distillery
Ballindalloch is hailed as Scotland’s first single estate distillery, and the only one to operate within a castle’s grounds.
Ballindalloch distillery
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Ballindalloch's new make is best described as robust and fruity, although without any mature spirit the finished whisky will no doubt develop additional characteristics as its life in a combination of first and refill barrels, first and refill hogsheads and first fill Sherry butts takes hold.
Ballindalloch History
While Ballindalloch is one of Scotland’s newest whisky distilleries, and perhaps one of the prettiest, its story runs as far back as the 16th century. Built within the grounds of Ballindalloch Castle on the banks of the River Avon, the distillery marks the return of the Macpherson-Grant family to the distilling industry.
The castle itself was built in 1546 and has been home to the Macpherson-Grants ever since, but it was just up the road at Cragganmore that the family first invested in Scotch. Sir George Macpherson-Grant leased part of the Ballindalloch estate to distiller John Smith to build Cragganmore Distillery in 1869. After Smith died in 1923 the family became joint owners of the distillery with White Horse Distillers.
The Macpherson-Grants remained involved with Cragganmore for the best part of the 20th century, eventually selling their stake in the distillery to DCL in 1965. It took the family almost 50 years to return to whisky once more.
Come 2011, Guy Macpherson-Grant, 23rd generation of his family and current occupier of Ballindalloch Castle, began construction of a malt whisky distillery in a 19th century farm steading, making it Scotland’s only whisky distillery to operate within a castle’s grounds.
Hailing itself as 'Scotland’s first single estate distillery', Ballindalloch uses barley harvested from its own fields and feeds its award-winning Aberdeen Angus cattle on the draff. Production officially began in late 2014, although the distillery was officially opened by a visit from the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay (Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall) in 2015.
The Macpherson-Grants have committed to waiting at least eight years before bottling any of Ballindalloch’s whisky, although visitors to the site will be able to sample some of the family’s private casks from Cragganmore.
Timeline
- 1546 Ballindalloch Castle is built on the bank of the Avon River in Banffshire
- 1869 Sir George Macpherson-Grant leases part of the Ballindalloch estate to distiller John Smith to build Cragganmore Distillery
- 1965 The Macpherson-Grant family sell their stake in Cragganmore to DCL
- 2011 Construction work begins to transform a 19th century farm steading into a distillery
- 2014 Ballindalloch Distillery begins production, bringing distilling back to the Macpherson-Grant family for the first time in 58 years
- 2015 The distillery and visitors’ centre is officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay
Ballindalloch Facts
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- Condenser Type i
- Worm tub
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- Fermentation Time i
- Min 60 hrs
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- Filling Strength i
- 64%
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- Grist Weight (t) i
- 1.1
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- Heat Source i
- Steam
-
- Mash Tun Type i
- Semi Lauter
-
- New-make Strength i
- 71.5%
-
- Single Malt Percentage i
- 100%
-
- Spirit Still Shape i
- Ball
-
- Stills i
- 2
-
- Warehousing i
- Stowed
-
- Wash Still Shape i
- Lamp glass
-
- Washback Size (l) i
- 10,000
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- Washback Type i
- Wood
-
- Washbacks i
- 4
-
- Yeast Type i
- Dried
Owner
Current owner
- Ballindalloch Distillery LLP 2014 - present
Contact
- Address
-
Ballindalloch Distillery
Ballindalloch
Moray
AB37 9AA
United Kingdom - Phone
- +44 1807 500331
- Visitor Opening Hours
Contact distillery for details
Map
See also
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Distiller
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Distillery & brand
Glenfarclas
One of the oldest distilleries in Speyside and one that still uses direct fire to heat its stills.