BALMENACH
| Location : |
Balmenach, Cromdale, Grantown-on-Spey. Moray, Morayshire. Grampian Region. – A95 main road heading towards Bridge of Avon from Grantown- on-Spey. About a mile from the former Cromdale station on the Spey Valley railway line. |
| Region : |
Highland Speyside |
| Country : |
Scotland |
| Type : |
Malt |
| Distillery : |
BALMENACH
Cromdale, Grantown-On-Spey, Morayshire PH26 3PF
Phone: 01479-872569
Fax: 01479-873829
Since 1922 -> Distillers Company Ltd. (Before Balmenach-Glenlivet Distillery Ltd.) |
| Founded : |
1800-1801 (Legal 1824) by James MacGregor. |
| Owner : |
Since 1922 -> Distillers Company Ltd. |
| Producer : |
? |
| Water : |
Creagan a" Chaise |
| Remark : |
From the book 'The Scottish collection' Classic Malts by Carol P. Shaw:
Tasting notes : A complicated, full-bodied malt, best suited os an after-dinner dram. Taste Rating = 4
The Balmenach Distillery, in the Haughs of Cromdale, is set in an area which was notorious for illicit distilling for many years before the Licensing Act of 1823. Built in 1824 by James McGregor (great-grandfather of Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart, author of the slassic 1951 book, Scotch), Balmenach was one of the first distilleries in the Highlands to be licensed under the 1923 act. The distillery was acquired by United Distillers and most of its production went into the company's blends but has since been closed. The single malt is still relatively rare, only becomming available in official bottlings in the Distillery (Flora and Fauna) Malt series early in the 1990's.
Balmenach is used in Crabbie's blends
From the Whisky pilot by Uniqum Systems :
Built in 1824 by James McGregor, Balmenach was one of the first distilleries in the Highlands to become legitimate after the Licensing Act of 1823. Located in a stretch of land known as the Haughs of Cromdale, meaning a series of valleys, this area once was notorious for illicit distilling.
Bought by SMD in 1930 and extended from four stills to six stills in 1962. A Saladin Box malting system was installed in 1964 and used until the mid- 1980's. Bought by United Distillers plc, but was closed and mothballed at the end of May, 1993. United Distillers sold it to Inver House Distillers in December 1997. The distillery has three low wines and three spirit stills each which still has its own worm tub. Production started on the 2nd of March 98 and it is planned toproduce 1,200,000 litres to end 1998.
A branch line was built to the distillery in the late 1880s and the steam engine which worked the line is preserved on the Strathspey railway at Aviemore.
Local lore tells that farmer James McGregor was visited by an excise officer just after the 1823 Excise Act had been passed. He was shown round the farm and experienced typical hospitality with a bottle of fine whisky. The officer then pointed out an outbuilding and asked what it was used for. "That's just the peat shed," came the reply. The officer said nothing, and continued to enjoy his whisky. After a few more drams, the officer made to leave.
"If I were you, Mr McGregor," he said, "I'd take out a licence for that peat shed. " McGregor took the hint and took out the necessary licence.
The distillery lies in a bowl in the hills off the A95 main road heading towards Bridge of Avon from Grantown- on-Spey. The distillery stands about a mile from the former Cromdale station on the Spey Valley railway line.
Visitors by appointment only.
Production water comes from the Creagan a" Chaise, part of the Cromdale hills, via the Resmuden and Cordon burns." |
| Danish Remark : |
Balmenach single malt forhandles også i Danmark som "Deerstalker" single highland malt 12 år 40%, en købmandslicens der går tilbage til 1881 – en af de skotske købmandsklassikere. |
BOTTLINGS
Balmenach
10 years old |
| Sorry no picture. |
|
| Age : |
10 years old. |
| Vol : |
63,6% |
| Type : |
Speyside cask malt |
| Price : |
? |
| Taste : |
? |
| Remark : |
Cask strength. |
Balmenach
12 years old |
| |
 |
| Age : |
12 years old. |
| Vol : |
43% |
| Type : |
Speyside single malt |
| Price : |
? |
| Taste : |
? |
| Remark : |
Cask strength. |
Balmenach
24 years old |
| Sorry no picture. |
|
| Age : |
24 years old. |
| Vol : |
46% |
| Type : |
Speyside malt |
| Price : |
? |
| Taste : |
? |
| Remark : |
None at present time. |
Balmenach
vintage 1987 |
| Sorry no picture. |
  |
| Age : |
Vintage 1987 |
| Vol : |
46% |
| Type : |
? |
| Price : |
? |
| Taste : |
? |
| Remark : |
A vintage botteling from Gordon MacPhail.
Balmenach Speyside scotch whisky – Gordon MacPhail – Connoisseurs Choice selection. |
SMCS0114 Balmenach – Rare malt 1979 17 59,6 70 av. from Danish distr. Mac Y.
Balmenach (Deerstalker) single malt 12 år
Balmenach Highland Speyside. – Malt. Speyside (Used in Crabbie's blends)
Balmenach 12 years old Single Speyside Speyside 12 43 United Distillers bottling.
Balmenach 1970 Single Speyside Speyside 1970 40 The following distillings are available: 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973 to be followed by the 1974 distilling. All distillings has a strength of 40% vol. and comes in 70cl bottles. Gordon & MacPhail bottling.
Balmenach 1971 Single Speyside Speyside 1971 40 The following distillings are available: 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973 to be followed by the 1974 distilling. All distillings has a strength of 40% vol. and comes in 70cl bottles. Gordon & MacPhail bottling.
Balmenach 1972 Single Speyside Speyside 1972 40 The following distillings are available: 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973 to be followed by the 1974 distilling. All distillings has a strength of 40% vol. and comes in 70cl bottles. Gordon & MacPhail bottling.
Balmenach 1981 Cask Strength Cask Strength Speyside 1981 1994 62,9 Bottled June 1994, available from Wm. Cadenhead. Distillery is closed.
| LINKS………. |
to official Balmenach Scotch whisky from Morayshire or related web pages. |
| URL : |
None at present time. |
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