Benromach Distillery, Speyside

Benromach Distillery is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres in Speyside. This small and almost lost distillery produces a range of single malt whiskies, including Benromach Traditional and Benromach Organic.

In 1983, Benromach was closed by its then-owners, United Distillers. In 1993, Gordon & MacPhail, the Elgin-based whisky merchants and bottlers, acquired the distillery and completely renovated its facilities. It is one of only two mainland Scotch whisky distilleries that use peated malt for virtually all their production, albeit most is produced with around 10-12ppm phenol in the malt. For two weeks per year, heavily peated spirit is also produced.

As well as a core range of 10, 15, and 21-year-old whiskies, the distillery has started an annual release of 40-year-old malt. Benromach also specializes in wine finishes for some of its spirits, with Hermitage and Sassicaia finishes in the range. The style of the whiskies is initially smoky, with wet grass, butter, and ginger notes. Citrus, dried fruit, and soft wood smoke dominate the palate.

(Adapted from the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024)

Speyside Whisky

To some Speyside represents the jewel in whisky’s crown. Speyside is the home of legal whisky production and it’s best known examples. Around the world Glenlivet, Macallan, Glenfiddich, Glenrothes and Glenfarclas typify all that whisky, at it’s best has to offer. At it’s heart running from the Monadhliath mountains north to the sea, is the River Spey. It is the fastest flowing river in Britain, and also well known for its salmon fishing.

Speyside is the principal whisky-producing region: Speyside has within it some forty-six operating distilleries - over half the total number in the entire Scotland.

Speysides are essentially sweet whiskies. They have little peaty character They are typically highly perfumed, feminine and elegant.

The classical nature of Speyside’s malts means that a number of the finest malts are used almost exclusively for blending. It is the top Speysider’s that give good blends their ‘Top Dressing’. 

Malts such as Mortlach, Glen Elgin, Strathmill and Benrinnes are rarely found as distillery bottlings, however when individual casks are tracked down by independent bottlers such as our Own Selection Single Malt Whiskies the resultant whisky can be quite wonderful.