BenRiach Distillery, or “The BenRiach” is a Single Malt distillery in the Speyside region of Scotland, voted Global Whisky Distiller of the Year at the 2015 Icons of Whisky Awards. It is the only operation in the region to produce a peated malt.
As with many distilleries, BenRiach has a complex and difficult history. It was built in 1898 on the same site as Longmorn Distillery, drawing water from the Burnside underground springs deep beneath the property, but was operational for just two years before a crash in the industry. It remained closed until 1965, though the floor malting (which still exists) remained in operation serving Longorn, which distilled sporadically through the period.
Then BenRiach was reopened by Glenlivet Distillers, and after a major renovation, production of peated malt began in 1972, to be used in blended whisky. The first whisky under the BenRiach brand was released in 1994.
After ownership passed to Seagram and then Pernod Ricard, the distillery was mothballed in 2002, before being re-opened again in 2004 by an independent consortium. They inherited an impressive inventory with casks dating back to 1965. Both peated and unpeated styles are distilled, with the former accounting for around 10 percent of output. Since 2004 its overhauled range has attracted much critical acclaim. Floor malting was recommenced in 2012 after a program of restoration.
The core (un-peated) line-up comprises 10-, 16- and 20-year-old expressions plus the Heart of Speyside bottling. The handful of peated whiskies includes a 10, 17, and 25-year-old. The portfolio also includes several wood finishes, 25- and 35-year-old premium expressions, and a collection of limited releases.
Brown-Forman acquired BenRiach along with its partner brands Glendronach and Glenglassaugh in 2016.
