Balvenie Distillery

Established in 1892 by William Grant, who had founded the Glenfiddich distillery six years earlier, Balvenie is a quintessential ‘Speyside’ distillery.

The region of Speyside is world famous as the home of ‘Highland Single Malt’ with over 50 distilleries within a relatively small area. Macallan, Glenlivet, Aberlour and Glenfarclas are some of the top names that call Speyside home and Balvenie sits among the best. William Grant & Sons are the third largest producer of Scotch whisky and the firm is still independently run by his descendants.

Speyside, known not only for its scenic beauty, was once synonymous with illicit whisky distilling throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries – similar to moonshining in America during prohibition. The British government had put a blanket ban on all highland single malt due to issues with taxation. However, banning the substance only made it more desirable and, therefore, more profitable! Soon, Highland Single Malt became legendary as the finest whisky in the world – mostly because of the high risks involved in obtaining it.

The long-standing traditions laid down by William Grant still breathe life into every cask. Notably, it is one of only seven distilleries in over one hundred around Scotland that still has its malting floor. This practice has been dropped by the vast majority due to cost but those at Balvenie believe that it helps create a product like no other.

With a stunning backdrop of the rolling highlands and a uniquely intimate tour Balvenie is recognised among the elite when it comes to visitor experiences. Their tour breaks the mould and takes you on a deep dive into their history, process and, of course, samples of the spirit itself. Balvenie produce expressions ranging from 12 to 60 years old. For those looking to bring home something unique – look no further.

Sitting in the heart of Speyside, Balvenie is a stone’s throw from the historic Dufftown and is easily paired with other distilleries in the area. Speyside also boasts a number of great eateries and Balvenie’s sister distillery Glenfiddich has one of the best-stocked bars in the country. Slàinte!